Lawyer: Testimony blocked in inquiry

The attorney who received a subpoena to testify today before a federal grand jury in the bribery investigation into Gov. Jim Gibbons said Thursday that he is being blocked from appearing.

Michael Flynn, the attorney who represented software designer Dennis Montgomery, said Thursday that Montgomery's new attorneys in Washington, D.C., have claimed attorney-client privilege and have filed a challenge in the federal courts that would prevent him from testifying.

Flynn once represented Montgomery, and the grand jury might ask him about his former client. "I'm a willing, cooperative witness, but Montgomery's attorneys are blocking my appearance," he said.

The Washington, D.C.-based grand jury was convened to look into whether Gibbons accepted bribes in return for steering military contracts to a Reno-based software company, eTreppid.

Flynn represented Montgomery in a federal court civil dispute with eTreppid founder Warren Trepp over ownership of eTreppid software used by the military.

Montgomery has accused Gibbons of accepting at least $100,000 in cash in bribes to help eTreppid secure the military contracts. Gibbons has denied the accusations.

Flynn withdrew from representing Montgomery after he learned that his former client lied, he said in court documents.

Montgomery's attorney, Robert Bennett, couldn't be reached for comment.