Ousted former FBI agent defends Flint water probe after criticism

A former FBI agent hired to investigate the handling of the Flint, Mich., water crisis defended his team's work, saying that additional criminal charges were on their way when he and his team were ousted from their roles.

Flint's water crisis began in 2014, after the city's drinking water source was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the Flint River.

As a result of poor water treatment, lead from water pipes leached into drinking water, exposing tens of thousands of residents to increased lead levels.

Andy Arena was removed from his investigatory role in February 2019, after the election of Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel.

Along with special prosecutor Todd Flood who himself was removed in April Arena charged 15 people, seven of whom pleaded no contest to misdemeanours.

In June, Michigan's solicitor general Fadwa Hammoud dropped charges in eight pending cases, saying that her team planned on starting the investigation from scratch.

'You don't take your shot at John Gotti'

At a public forum last week, Arena's team was criticized for overlooking records and other pieces of evidence.

"Your success not based on how many documents you get," said Arena, in defence of his team's efforts. "Your success is based on the relevancy of documents."

Arena explained that he had been focusing on decisions that led to the water supply switch, while others on his team were investigating events that occurredafter the switch.

He added that he would've dropped "a heavy rock" within six months, if he had continued his investigation, while further defending the plea deals with state and local water regulators.

"When you're investigating the Gambino crime family, you don't take your shot at John Gotti," said Arena, who led the FBI's office in New York. "You start with the bookies and the gamblers and the loan sharks and you work your way up. As you are working your way up, you will make plea agreements."

According to Courtney Covington, a spokesperson at the Michigan attorney general's office, the new team is committed to a "complete investigation."

"That investigation will be the singular focus of the team's energies and attention moving forward," said Covington.