Michigan’s chief medical executive will stand trial on involuntary manslaughter and other charges in a criminal investigation of the Flint water crisis, a judge ruled in December 2018. Dr. Eden Wells, a member of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Cabinet, is one of five people facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area in 2014 and 2015. Dr. Wells is now the second high-ranking state official, along with Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, to be ordered to trial. Dr. Wells who continues to be an employee of the state government, has denied any wrongdoing, and according to her attorney say she had no legal duty to warn the public and worked diligently to investigate and resolve Flint’s water issues.

The Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed charges against Wells last year which included obstruction of justice and lying to the police. The Attorney General has since added the manslaughter charges. Mr. Schuette has said key state officials, which included Dr. Wells, were aware of the legionella problems but waited too long to inform the public. A number of experts have blamed the outbreak on the use of the Flint River for municipal water. Legionella bacteria can trigger a severe form of pneumonia, especially in people with weakened immune systems. A trial date has not been set for any of those currently charged in the case.