Snyder supports DHHS director targeted in Flint water investigation

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The director of the Health and Human Services Department may be facing charges as a result of the state attorney general's investigation into the Flint water crisis.

Attorney General Bill Schuette's office will not confirm but the speculation in town centers on the DHHS Director Nick Lyon, who may be charged soon for his role in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis.

Lyon attended a news conference this week in the governor's office but declined to be interviewed.

Skubick: "Why can't you talk to us?"

Lyon: "There's a protective order and an investigation in place that's going on and I'll wait for that investigation to play out."

Skubick: "Do you expect to be charged?"

Lyon: "I'm not going to comment on that. Thank you."

The governor wasn't commenting either on the speculation that the next shoe to drop could be on his department director, whom he still supports.

"I continue to support him as director of the department," Snyder said.

Skubick: "Should he be charged with anything?"

Snyder: "Again I'm not going to speculate on that. That's the role for the attorney general."

Then under more questioning the governor added this:

"It's not appropriate in terms of who we are and let's let the investigation follow its path."

One of the last times Lyon appeared before the media was at a legislative committee hearing last April looking into the Flint water crisis including 10 deaths associated with Legionnaires Disease in Genesee County. Lyon confirmed that it took him one year to notify the governor that the disease was prevalent.

"I was aware of the outbreak in January of 2015.

Skubick: "Did it take you a year to notify the governor of that information?"

"I did not mention the (Legionella) to the governor until the day we went public, so that's an accurate statement."

Also expected to be targeted is a former DHHS employee Sue Moran now in the private sector. It is not clear when the attorney general will make a final decision whether to seek criminal charges against them.