Snyder: I'm not concerned about being charged over Flint water crisis
LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday he has “no reason to be concerned” that Attorney General Bill Schuette will bring criminal charges against him in connection with the Flint drinking water crisis, and most of the $3.5 million he is spending on outside criminal legal defense fees is to pay for work on turning over documents to investigators.
In an interview with the Free Press at his Capitol office, Snyder said he "can't speak for the attorney general," but asked if he is getting concerned that Schuette might decide to bring criminal charges against him, Snyder said: "I have no reason to be concerned."
Snyder made the comments as news broke that his total bill for outside legal fees — all charged to taxpayers — has hit $4.9 million, after he gave notice of a $1.5-million increase in his criminal defense contract with Warner Norcross of Grand Rapids, bringing the cap on that contract to $3.5 million. Snyder also has a $1.4-million contract with Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, a Detroit firm providing civil law defense.
Asked why taxpayers are paying $3.5 million for his criminal defense if he has no reason to be concerned, Snyder said that although the contract with Warner Norcross says it is for criminal defense advice, the bulk of the money spent on the contract is for attorneys to find and prepare records requested by Schuette's team and the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is also investigating the lead contamination of Flint's drinking water.
Read more: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/12/21/rick-snyder-flint-water-crisis/95716756/
