I not sure they have much to go on. They can argue to the court that he be compelled to testify. Not sure how that works when you have a an amendment to the US Constitution clearly stating that you don’t.
There might some work around since he hasn’t been charged or something. But it’s apparent that he thinks or knows that the if he gets up there, he’s fried chicken.
Either way, Minneapolis will be on fire in short order. I hope the citizens are proud of who they voted for.
A point that needs repeating, and can never be lost in the chaos that is to come.
I would imagine he would be compelled to show up, just so the defense can have him take the 5th in front of the jury. Also, if convicted, surely this would play at the Appellate level, if/when Chauvin appeals that conviction.
That's not what the Constitution says. You can't be compelled to testify against yourself. They can still compel him to testify and he would have to invoke the 5th on any questions that would incriminate him. But that could be a very beneficial thing to the defense. For example, he could not invoke the 5th if the defense asked him if Floyd was on drugs at the time of the incident, because that does not implicate him. If the defense then asked if he knew where Floyd got the drugs and he invoked the 5th, the implication the jury could take is that Floyd got the drugs from him. There are many things the defense could ask that would not fall under protections of the 5th Amendment, and depending upon the question, requiring him to invoke the 5th could be good for the defense as well.