Flint Water Crisis: Top Lawmaker Asks US Marshals to 'Hunt' Down Former Emergency Manager
— -- The chairman of the House Oversight Committee called on the U.S. Marshals today to "hunt ... down" the former emergency manager of Flint, one of several officials who did not appear before his panel for the first Congressional hearing on the water crisis in Michigan.
Darnell Earley, the former emergency manager of Flint who served when the city's water source was switched to the Flint River, was subpoenaed by the panel ahead of today's hearing, but his attorney told ABC News the subpoena came too late for him to appear before the committee.
"We're calling on the U.S. Marshals to hunt him down and give him that subpoena," Rep. Jason Chaffetz said, to cheers.
The Utah Republican said the committee would issue a second subpoena to compel Earley, who was appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to serve as emergency manager, to appear later this month. Earley also resigned from his position as emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools earlier this week.
"Participation before this committee is not optional," Chaffetz said.
Earley, along with Miguel Del Toral, an Environmental Protection Agency official, and Susan Hedman, the former regional head of the EPA who resigned amid the water crisis, did not appear before the committee today. Hedman will also be subpoenaed, Chaffetz said.
Chaffetz accepted Del Toral's decision not to appear, and said the EPA has agreed to turn over his emails to the committee by the end of the week. Del Toral has been credited with sounding the alarm about the elevated lead levels in Flint's municipal water supply.
While Democrats have demanded Snyder's appearance before the committee to testify on the water crisis, Chaffetz did not invite the governor to appear. Republicans have criticized the response of the Environmental Protection Agency to the crisis.
Lawmakers are investigating the response to the water crisis in Flint, after toxic levels of lead were found in the water supply after the city switched its water source from the Detroit water system to the Flint River. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the water crisis to determine if any federal laws were violated.
"I want everybody who is responsible for this fiasco to be held accountable," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee. "We are the last line of defense."
Michigan lawmakers have introduced several proposals to provide Flint with emergency funds to clean up the city's water supply and infrastructure. Snyder has also requested $30 million to help pay water bills for Flint residents, and last week signed $28 million in relief into law.
President Obama declared a federal emergency in Flint in January, allowing up to $5 million in federal aid for things such as clean drinking water and water filters, among other things.
