Two area men accused of being in on a plot to kidnap and kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 are in court in Antrim County and may have to go to trial.

The two are among five men who are in court this week for a preliminary examination to determine if their cases will move forward.

Twin brothers Michael Null of Plainwell and William Null of Shelbyville, both age 40, face charges of providing material support for terrorism, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. They are free on bond pending resolution of the case.

Antrim County is where Whitmer owns a vacation home on Burt Lake. FBI officials said five  men conducted surveillance on Whitmer’s home in preparation for her kidnapping because of her strong measures during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The FBI has said the men wanted to help start some kind of civil war.

Two of the ringleaders of the alleged plot were convicted of charges last week, two have been acquitted and several others have pleaded guilty.