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Federal State Of Emergency Declared In Flint, Michigan Over Contaminated Water Supply

Source: Sarah Rice / Getty

The man who was the emergency manager in Flint, Michigan, when the city changed its water supply is refusing to testify before Congress. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants to question Darnell Earley sometime today about the water crisis in Flint and had him served with a subpoena. Earley was the manager in charge when the city switched from the Detroit water system which was fed from Lake Huron to water from the Flint River which was treated at the water treatment plant in Flint. That contaminated water source resulted in a fast corrosion of the city’s old pipes and lead quickly leeching into the city’s water poisoning thousands of residents through external and ingested exposure.

It was announced on Tuesday that the FBI is involved now with this investigation into the water contamination crisis in Flint. This may be the reason that Earley is refusing to testify to spare himself from any self-incrimination as the various federal investigations continue into what appears to be the poisoning of a poor American city with residents who are mostly African American.

Earley, who is also African American was an appointee to the post of emergency manager by Michigan’s top elected official, Gov. Rick Snyder.  He is currently serving as the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools, but according to various media reports, Snyder’s office announced on Tuesday that Earley has notified Snyder that he intends to step down from that post as well, effective at the end of this month on Feb. 29.

The hearing is underway now. WATCH LIVE BELOW:

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