FLINT, Mich. _ Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday he is standing behind two top health department officials who face serious felony charges in the Flint drinking water investigation.
Snyder issued his statement after Attorney General Bill Schuette announced that Department of Health and Services Director Nick Lyon has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and Snyder's Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Eden Wells, is charged with obstruction of justice.
"Director Lyon and Dr. Wells have been and continue to be instrumental in Flint's recovery," Snyder said in a news release. "They have my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at DHHS."
Snyder said Lyon "has been a strong leader ... and remains completely committed to Flint's recovery."
The governor said Lyon and Wells, "like every other person who has been charged with a crime by Bill Schuette, are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
Snyder said "some state employees were charged over a year ago and have been suspended from work since that time. They still have not had their day in court. That is not justice for Flint nor for those who have been charged."
Also Wednesday, Schuette said his investigators attempted to interview Snyder as part of their criminal investigation of the Flint drinking water crisis, but were unable to do so.
"We have attempted to interview the governor," Schuette said at a news conference in Flint where he announced charges against two more state defendants and added involuntary manslaughter charges against four defendants who were charged earlier in the investigation.
Schuette said he couldn't elaborate on why he was unable to interview Snyder, Michigan's Republican governor since 2011.
Snyder's office responded to an e-mail seeking an explanation by saying that would have to come from Brian Lennon, a Grand Rapids criminal defense attorney representing Snyder. The governor has allocated at least $3.5 million for outside criminal defense fees since the crisis began, according to state records.
Schuette said that his investigation is not closed, but there are no current plans to bring criminal charges against Snyder.
The Republican attorney general, who is expected to run for governor in 2018 with Snyder leaving office because of term limits, said he's heard from people "angry and frustrated" that he hasn't charged Snyder, but has also heard from others who feel he's been too hard on the Snyder administration in the course of his investigation.
Charges will only be brought where the evidence warrants them, Schuette said.
