FLINT, MI (MPRN)— Attorneys for former Governor Rick Snyder will likely ask a federal appeals court for him to avoid testifying in a civil trial tied to the Flint water crisis.
Snyder is among five potential witnesses in the civil trial who are also facing criminal charges in the water crisis.
Their attorneys say, if forced to testify, they’ll invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. But the judge in the civil case ruled Snyder and the others waived their Fifth Amendment right when they took part in pre-trial depositions.
If they refuse to testify, they could face contempt charges.
On Friday, the judge told lawyers for the former governor and others to file written briefs next week, which is a step toward appealing to the higher court.