Michigan governor faces racketeering lawsuit over Flint water crisis

The lawsuit brought by Flint residents alleges the two-year crisis was the result of 'intentional' actions by state officials to cut costs amid bankruptcy fears

A federal racketeering lawsuit by hundreds of resident in Flint, Michigan, is alleging the city's two-year water crisis was the result of an"intentional scheme" crafted by state officials and Michigan's governor, Rick Snyder, to balance the city's budget.

In a press conference announcing the 17-count racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (Rico) complaint on Wednesday, attorneys said the state of Michigan ran Flint's day-to-day operations through an emergency manager, who prioritized balancing the city's budget through a cost-cutting measure: switching Flint's water source in April 2014 from Lake Huron, which serviced the city for more than 50 years, to a local river.