Michael Flynn invokes Fifth Amendment in Russia probe

Former national Security Adviser to US President Donald Trump, Michael Flynn, has invoked the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and has declined to comply with a Senate Intelligence Committee subpoena.

“The context in which the Committee has called for General Flynn’s testimonial production of documents makes it clear that he has more than a reasonable apprehension that any testimony he provides could be used against him,” Flynn’s attorneys wrote in a letter they sent to the committee.

Initially, Associated Press news agency cited a source close to the investigation, with the Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR following with own confirmations.

Flynn's decision comes less than two weeks after the committee issued a subpoena on May 11 for Flynn's documents as part of the panel's investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

This request from the senate committee came after Flynn initially refused to provide documents in response to another subpoena dated April 28.

Flynn previously offered to testify before Congress Intelligence Committees, but only in exchange for immunity. Neither committee – House and Senate – accepted the offer from Flynn’s lawyer.

Last week, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr said that Flynn was "not cooperating" so far with the committee's investigation, but that he hadn’t received a "definitive" answer on whether Flynn would testify.