Michigan governor is being hauled before Congress to explain himself in Flint water crisis

Michigan governor Rick Snyder has already acknowledged that the water poisoning crisis in Flint is his fault. But now that the case has received national attention and children are dying, the United States Congress is taking on the matter. There’s already a legal investigation as to whether Snyder or others in his administration may have altered or buried data which showed a problem was looming. In addition, he’s being hauled before Congress to explain himself.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has taken up the matter and has formally invited Governor Snyder to testify about the matter. That backs him into a corner where he all but must accept the invitation for fear of political backlash across the spectrum if he fails to cooperate. President Obama has already pledged the financial resources to fix the local Flint water, and various outside entities ranging from a Muslim group to rock band Pearl Jam have offered additional resources. But now it appears Snyder is facing multiple levels of consequences.

In addition to the embarrassment of having to testify about the scandal before Congress in front of a likely national television audience, Snyder will also have to fend off separate legal investigations into his wrongdoing. One way or the other, his tenure as governor is nearing an end, as term limits prevent him from running again in 2018. The question now is whether he’ll have been impeached or arrested before that time.