DETROIT -- Flint Mayor Karen Weaver took the stand in a Detroit federal courtroom Thursday, May 9, in defense of her decision to fire former City Administrator Natasha Henderson in February 2016.

Henderson claims she was fired for telling other city officials, including ex-Chief Financial Officer Jody Lundquist, that Weaver seemingly tried to divert water crisis donations to her own nonprofit, named Caring for Flint.

Weaver insists that’s not true.

The mayor points specifically to a Feb. 9, 2016 MLive story as the impetus for her decision to terminate Henderson.

Weaver testified that at the time, she was preparing to visit Washington D.C. to address Congress about the Flint water crisis. Someone presented Weaver the story written by Ron Fonger of The Flint Journal/MLive that showed several Flint officials, including Henderson, received an email from a Genesee County health official 11 months prior, warning them of a possible link between an uptick in Legionella illnesses and municipal water contamination.

“Blindsided,” “stunned,” “angry" and “disappointed” is how the Weaver described her feelings after reading the article and learning Henderson, a city hall insider she worked closely with, never notified her of the Legionella connection.

“I asked her why she didn’t share that information,” Weaver said from the witness stand Thursday.

“What was her response?” asked attorney Maurice Jenkins, who is representing Flint in the whistleblower trial.

“That it wasn’t her responsibility,” Weaver testified.

Henderson, who previously testified over two days, retook the stand Thursday and denied making that statement.

Attorneys Sarah R. Howard and Katherine Smith Kennedy of Grand Rapids-based Pinsky, Smith, Fayette & Kennedy law firm also presented emails between Henderson and Weaver indicating the mayor was aware of the Legionella link prior to the Feb. 9 MLive story.

Weaver said that though she requested information about Legionella, she was never alerted to the March 2015 email Henderson received from a health official about the possible crisis that has since been blamed for at least a dozen deaths.

Weaver said she made the decision to fire Henderson on Feb. 12, about three months after taking office.

Henderson, in her lawsuit and in testimony, claims the real reason she was fired was because she exposed potential impropriety by the mayor related to donations intended to help address the water crisis.

Former Flint Chief Financial Officer Jody Lundquist on Wednesday testified that she was approached in early February 2016 by Henderson, who told her that Weaver, through her assistant, asked that potential city donors be directed to the mayor’s newly formed Caring for Flint nonprofit foundation.

Henderson worried the mayor might be diverting funds for reasons they weren’t originally intended.

Weaver’s assistant, Maxine Murray, independently told the then-CFO she “felt uncomfortable about the direction she received from the mayor,” Lundquist testified.

Lundquist also said she witnessed Henderson telling ex-interim City Attorney Anthony Chubb about the request.

Weaver testified that she created the fund, known as a 527 account, at the recommendation of other mayors and advisers from across the state. She testified it was “no secret" -- although Lundquist said she was never made aware of the account -- and said the funds were meant to support her travel, lodging and other costs incurred as she traveled the state and nation talking about the Flint water crisis.

Weaver said she also hoped to compensate volunteers who assisted with the fund, including close political adviser Aonie Gilcreast.

Community activist and Weaver critic Arthur Woodson of Flint attended every day of the whistleblower trial.

“As, I see it, it’s a toss up,” Woodson said after Thursday’s hearing. "No matter what, if Natasha Henderson wins or loses, it’s the fact that she stopped them from being able to take the money that was supposed to be brought in for people of the city of Flint.

“I applaud Natasha Henderson for being a hero in my eyes, because she stood up and put herself between her job and the people and was a buffer to stop them from taking the money."

Testimony in the whistleblower trial concluded Thursday. The jury is expected to hear closing arguments on Tuesday, May 28, and could reach a verdict the same day.