Holland Reporter

State Representative Angela Rigas criticized Attorney General Dana Nessel for not providing requested documents related to the Flint Water Crisis prosecutions. Rigas, who leads the House Oversight Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government, initially requested itemized records from Nessel's office on March 12 with a deadline of March 25. Nessel's office asked for an eight-week extension, which was granted by Rigas. The extended deadline passed on May 20.

On May 21, Nessel’s staff delivered a flash drive to Rigas’ office and shared its contents with several Lansing media outlets. The flash drive included numerous unrelated documents, mostly from Bill Schuette’s time as attorney general. Nessel also sought another four-week extension to provide the specific records originally requested in March.

“Dana Nessel’s office sent us an incomplete, incoherent mess of documents on a password-protected flash drive like they were bringing us the Holy Grail,” said Rigas. “She then also sent certain members of the Lansing press corps the same documents, most of which had nothing to do with our original records request.”

Rigas had asked for detailed information about billable hours, legal fees, associated costs related to the Flint Water Crisis prosecutions, state funds used in these cases, contracts and invoices with third-party entities involved in these prosecutions, and any reimbursements or settlements received by Nessel's office.

According to Rigas, only partial fulfillment was made regarding contracts and invoices with third parties.

“Dana Nessel and her office have consistently failed to meet deadline after deadline, and it’s unacceptable,” stated Rigas. “She has failed to follow simple directions and comply with what has so clearly been requested. There will be no more extensions. No more games. This ends now.”