There were sharp words and accusations today that key officials were negligent as they allowed the water crisis in Flint to fester. The US House Oversight Committee held a hearing in Washington on the crisis.
Darnell Earley was the state-appointed emergency manager in charge when Flint switched water supplies, which led to the contamination. But he says he was carrying out decisions made before he came on board. And that he should not be held responsible for those decisions.
“I believe that I have been unjustly persecuted, vilified and smeared, both personally and professionally.”
The former regional EPA chief was also put in the hot seat, and she said federal officials could have done more to avert the Flint disaster, but Susan Hedman says EPA officials did nothing wrong.