(This op/ed was submitted to The Flint Journal/MLive by former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette)

I had the privilege of serving as Attorney General of Michigan for eight years. During this period of time, I conducted three major investigations: MSU/Nassar; the Catholic Church in Michigan; and, the Flint water crisis.

In each instance, I assembled teams of skilled lawyers with courtroom experience and top-notch investigators to determine the truth and provide justice for citizens of our state. The Catholic Church investigation has resulted in five men being charged with 21 counts of criminal sexual conduct, and the investigation is ongoing. The MSU/Nassar investigation has resulted in the conviction of former MSU Dean William Strampel and charges against two others.

The Flint water investigation was conducted in the same way, with one goal: justice for the families of Flint.

Successful criminal investigations require seasoned professionals. No drama, no apologists and no favorites. Here are the facts about the Flint water crisis.

The Flint water crisis is NOT about politics or who is the Governor, or who is the Attorney General or who are the defendants. I put together an experienced review team, with courtroom experience and solid, impeccable credentials. My review team was composed of David Leyton, Genesee County Prosecutor (a Democrat and my opponent in 2010); Andy Arena, former head of the Detroit FBI; Judge Bill Whitbeck, former Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals; Todd Flood, former Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor and former Ionia County Circuit Judge David Hoort. Charging decisions were always made with painstaking thoroughness. When the evidence matched the elements of a crime and the jury instructions, then charges were filed. We filed 59 charges against 15 individuals, secured 5 convictions and were ready for several more trials.

The Flint Water Crisis is ONLY about families of Flint. For too long, citizens and families of Flint have been marginalized, victims of the global economy and shrinking manufacturing in Michigan. Flint families have felt powerless as auto production lines were cut and jobs moved out of town. People learned that lead was in the drinking water, because an anti-corrosive to coat the lead pipes and protect from lead leaching into the water supply was NOT added to the water. The result: 12 people died and thousands of children were poisoned. Small wonder that many families only drink water from a plastic bottle. That was the basis for the Flint investigation.

That is why the Flint investigation brought more than fifty charges against fifteen individuals, won five convictions and won two bind-overs in court. The Department of Attorney General was prepared to launch robust prosecutions of those who had been charged. Just as the department did with the Nassar investigation, and with the Catholic Church investigation. The department conducted all three investigations in the same manner – with no fear or favoritism. We simply followed the evidence.

This was always, and only, about delivering justice to the families of Flint. That was my goal when I served as Attorney General, and while I was unable to finish the investigation during my term of office, justice for Flint families remains my most fervent hope.