FLINT WATER CRISIS

Ex-FBI agent is out in Flint water investigation

Associated Press

Andrew Arena, pictured in 2012 in Detroit, headed the Detroit FBI office during much of the City of Detroit public corruption investigation that led to the imprisonment of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

The former head of the FBI in Detroit has been removed from the Flint water criminal investigation.

Andy Arena was part of the team assembled in 2016 by then-Attorney General Bill Schuette. He's had a distinguished career in law enforcement, especially with the FBI in New York and Detroit.

In a written statement, Fadwa Hammoud says she wants the new chief investigator to be someone inside the attorney general's office. Arena is being replaced by Jeff Seipanko, who already is part of the Flint water team.

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Hammoud is overseeing the investigation after the election of Dana Nessel, the new attorney general. Arena says, "I wish them the best."

The Flint water probe so far has resulted in seven misdemeanor plea deals. Arena defended the deals in a January interview with The Associated Press, saying cooperation is critical to get other targets.