Top Dem slams new Flint answers from Michigan governor

The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee says he has “a whole new set of concerns” about Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s (R) responses to Congress on the Flint water crisis. 

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on Monday released answers from Snyder to follow-up questions stemming from Snyder’s March appearance before Congress to discuss his administration’s response to the Flint crisis. 

{mosads}Cummings’s office said those answers contradict responses Snyder gave to the committee during that hearing and that he has continued doubts about the governor’s openness with lawmakers. 

“The governor’s written answers to the Committee raise a whole new set of concerns about the accuracy of his testimony before Congress in March,” he said.

“Despite Governor Snyder’s repeated promises to be transparent and accountable and to cooperate with Congress, his actions are impeding our ability to thoroughly investigate this crisis.”

Snyder’s answers indicated he may have delete emails relating to Flint before a state-appointed emergency manager began using the Flint River to supply the city with water, a decision that set off an ongoing public health crisis in the city. 

Snyder also said he didn’t discuss several messages from some of his top advisers, including his then-chief of staff, about the Flint crisis. Emails from Snyder’s top aides, released by the state earlier this year, showed internal concerns about the impact of the new water source on Flint. 

Cummings has long been critical of Snyder’s response to the Flint crisis. After the March hearing, he said, “I think that it is time for him to go,” and in an April letter to the governor, he said he had “grave concerns” about the quality of Snyder’s testimony.