{"id":72848,"date":"2026-02-18T10:41:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=72848"},"modified":"2026-02-18T10:45:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:45:31","slug":"opinion-how-the-justice-department-failed-flint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/guest-commentary\/opinion-how-the-justice-department-failed-flint\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion | How the Justice Department failed Flint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Flint water crisis is still with us. More than a decade later, residents are finally receiving compensation for harms caused by lead-poisoned water. A civil case against the EPA is moving forward in federal court. And national leaders are marking the anniversary of the federal emergency declaration.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid all this activity, it\u2019s important to remember what the federal government didn\u2019t do. The U.S. Department of Justice never brought federal charges against anyone involved in the Flint water crisis. Despite thousands of poisoned children and documented deaths, not a single person ever spent a single day in jail.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"headshot
Adam Wright, a former federal prosecutor, is a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is the author of a forthcoming article, \u2018Why Didn\u2019t Anyone Go to Jail?: The Flint Water Crisis as a White-Collar Crime,\u2019 in the Stetson Law Review. (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The DOJ deferred to state prosecutors, a decision that helped shape the quest for justice for Flint \u2013 years of investigation, enormous expense, and little, if any, criminal accountability. This outcome is often blamed on Michigan prosecutors. It shouldn\u2019t be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flint water crisis led to one of the most extensive criminal investigations in Michigan history. It involved two attorneys general, cost tens of millions of dollars and resulted in charges against 18 individuals, including former Governor Rick Snyder. It lasted longer than probes involving the Exxon Valdez or Deepwater Horizon oil spills. It lasted longer than the Ken Starr and Bob Mueller probes combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet the state effort ultimately collapsed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The federal government never stepped in. No federal indictments were returned. No federal convictions were secured. No federal sentences were imposed. This absence mattered then \u2014 and it matters today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A federal prosecution would not have guaranteed a particular result, but it would have involved a different process. The DOJ exists to handle complex, politically sensitive cases \u2014 especially when state and local leaders are implicated. Although the state investigation was extensive, it ultimately could not survive procedural and legal setbacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A federal case would have avoided procedural obstacles that undermined the state prosecutions. Michigan law required lengthy preliminary hearings that consumed time and resources. When the Attorney General later turned to a one-person grand jury, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that approach was unlawful. Federal prosecutors operate under different procedures and routinely rely on grand juries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal law gives prosecutors broader options in charging fraud, false statements, and obstruction of justice \u2013 statutes that carry significant penalties and are often used in complex investigations. These laws are often broader than their state counterparts and can capture broad forms of financial misconduct. Instead, these federal tools were left unused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of this is to suggest bad faith. State prosecutors fought valiantly for justice for Flint. The DOJ often defers to local authorities, and we will never know what, if anything, a federal effort might have produced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In hindsight, one conclusion is impossible to escape: the state process left meaningful criminal accountability out of reach, and a federal prosecution would have operated under a fundamentally different set of rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lessons here are not limited to Flint. Today\u2019s debates about federal prosecution often focus on the danger of overreach \u2014 cases that never should have been opened, subpoenas that never should have been issued, charges that never should have been brought. These abuses are real because they deploy the government\u2019s immense power where neither the law nor the facts justify it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Flint illustrates the opposite danger. Prosecutorial inaction can also be unjust. History shows that when local systems do not act \u2014 whether in civil rights cases decades ago or in more recent crises \u2014 federal intervention has often been decisive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Flint, the DOJ was the cavalry that never came. We cannot change that history, but we can learn from it. When the law supports it and the facts demand it, federal prosecution can serve an essential role \u2014 not just for Flint, but for all of us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A federal case would have avoided procedural obstacles that undermined the state prosecutions. One conclusion is impossible to escape: the state process left meaningful criminal accountability out of reach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1977,"featured_media":72849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":true,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-02-18T15:41:16Z","apple_news_api_id":"4eaea4e5-d40b-43cd-a720-7c444901829b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-02-18T15:45:35Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAg==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ATq6k5dQLQ82nIHxESQGCmw","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"hidden","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2442],"tags":[801],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[4465],"class_list":["post-72848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-commentary","tag-flint-water-crisis","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nOpinion | How the Justice Department failed Flint - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/guest-commentary\/opinion-how-the-justice-department-failed-flint\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Opinion | How the Justice Department failed Flint - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A federal case would have avoided procedural obstacles that undermined the state prosecutions. 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water.","rel":"","context":"In "Michigan Government"","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"flint water tower","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flint_water_tower_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flint_water_tower_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flint_water_tower_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flint_water_tower_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flint_water_tower_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10048,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/center-michigan\/first-comprehensive-book-flint-water-crisis-buy-your-copy-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":72848,"position":1},"title":"The first comprehensive book on the Flint water crisis: Buy your copy today","author":"Bridge Staff","date":"June 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Bridge Magazine, The Center for Michigan, and Mission Point Press announce new book:\u00a0Poison on Tap: How Government Failed Flint, and the Heroes Who Fought Back. After decades of abandonment, the mostly African-American residents of Flint, Mich., had thought they\u2019d lived through the worst of times. They were wrong. After more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Center for Michigan"","block_context":{"text":"The Center for Michigan","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/center-michigan\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/flint-cover-order.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/flint-cover-order.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/flint-cover-order.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/flint-cover-order.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/flint-cover-order.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2110,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-environment-watch\/flint-effect-feds-propose-eliminating-us-lead-pipes-within-10-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":72848,"position":2},"title":"The Flint effect: Feds propose eliminating U.S. lead pipes within 10 years","author":"Kelly House","date":"November 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The proposed EPA rule follows years of growing awareness of lead\u2019s perils following the 2014 Flint water crisis. Michigan regulators support the rule, but say the state will need more money to meet the more aggressive timeline.","rel":"","context":"In "Michigan Environment Watch"","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Environment Watch","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-environment-watch\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"lead pipe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10204,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/signs-trouble-mdeq-years-flint-lead-crisis\/","url_meta":{"origin":72848,"position":3},"title":"Signs of trouble at MDEQ, years before Flint lead crisis","author":"Ted Roelofs","date":"February 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A 2010 federal audit expressed concern about shortcuts Michigan\u2019s drinking water safety program was taking to save money. An expert testifying before Congress today concludes from the audit that water safety regulation in Michigan is \u201cmore broken than we think.","rel":"","context":"In "Michigan Government"","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Government","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-government\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Flint-river_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Flint-river_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Flint-river_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Flint-river_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Flint-river_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8038,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/guest-commentary\/opinion-flints-lead-exposed-children-sobering-lesson-toledo\/","url_meta":{"origin":72848,"position":4},"title":"Opinion | For Flint\u2019s lead-exposed children, a sobering lesson from Toledo","author":"Marilynne Wood","date":"July 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Flint water crisis impacted thousands of young children. A researcher who has studied the impact of lead exposure says there are interventions that can help.","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Commentary","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/guest-commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/wood.png?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":802,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-environment-watch\/decade-after-flint-feds-require-nationwide-lead-pipe-removal\/","url_meta":{"origin":72848,"position":5},"title":"A decade after Flint, feds require nationwide lead pipe removal","author":"Kelly House","date":"October 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A rule finalized Tuesday gives water providers across the country 10 years to get lead pipes out of their drinking water systems.","rel":"","context":"In "Michigan Environment Watch"","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Environment Watch","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-environment-watch\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"corroded lead water pipe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/lead_goose_neck_manifold_in_escanaba_0.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1977"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72848"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72851,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72848\/revisions\/72851"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72848"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=72848"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=72848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}