Yet another shoe has dropped in the Flint water crisis, as Gov. Snyder is calling for an internal investigation of the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The probe will be conducted by auditors within the department and those assigned to the Auditor General’s Office.
With the governor’s office in a bunker mentality these days, they chose to announce the probe at about 4:35 p.m., just minutes before the end of official business in advance of the coming weekend. Traditionally, releasing damaging information late on a Friday afternoon is a tactical means of minimizing the amount of media coverage received.
Here is the press release announcing the investigation of DHHS’ role in the Flint debacle:
Gov. Rick Snyder today called for an immediate and full joint investigation of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services by the state’s Auditor General and the DHHS Inspector General.
The investigation will look at the way the department handled public health issues related to elevated lead levels in blood tests in Flint, as well as the uptick in cases of Legionnaire’s Disease in Genesee County in 2014 and 2015.
“The public health issues the people of Flint and Genesee County are facing warranted an internal review of how the state handled these situations,” Snyder said. “That preliminary internal review warrants an immediate and thorough investigation. I want some answers.”
Snyder has asked Michigan Auditor General Doug Ringler and DHHS Inspector General Alan Kimichik to complete a joint investigation as soon as possible without sacrificing the thoroughness of the work they need to do.
The Governor has offered any assistance they might need from his office and has alerted the Attorney General’s Office to the investigation, as well.
According to the release, when the investigative report is completed, the results will be shared with the public, as well as “interested parties at the local, state and federal level.”
