Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday that she has asked Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to take over the prosecution of criminal cases related to the Flint water crisis.
Should Worthy accept Nessel’s offer, she would replace special prosecutor Todd Flood – who was appointed by Nessel’s predecessor, Bill Schuette.
Flood offered Nessel his resignation after her election victory, per a report in The Detroit News, but Nessel had not accepted the offer.
“I have total confidence in Prosecutor Worthy and her office,” Nessel said in a statement, “and there is no one whose opinion I value more when it comes to the complexity and importance of these cases.”
Worthy, who served on Nessel’s transition team, remained noncommittal about accepting Nessel’s request in a statement, saying that “a decision will be made at a later time addressing what entity will continue these prosecutions.”
Criminal charges were brought against 15 current and former state and city employees in connection to the Flint water crisis under Schuette.
Nine employees of the city and state have cases pending against them.