The Slatest

Report: Michael Flynn Will Invoke Fifth Amendment, Refuse to Comply With Senate Subpoena

Michael Flynn at the White House on Feb. 1.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will invoke the Fifth Amendment in refusing a Senate committee’s document subpoena, the Associated Press is reporting:

The Fifth Amendment protects an individual’s right not to give testimony that may implicate him or her in a crime. Flynn’s potentially improper financial connections to Russia and Turkey are reportedly the subject of the ongoing federal investigation that was led by the FBI and will now be supervised by special counsel Robert Mueller. The Senate Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own investigation of the matter, had specifically requested documents related to Flynn’s interactions with Russia. It’s not yet known how the Senate plans to respond to Flynn’s refusal; Slate discussed the options it might have in this situation in a post last week.

Also, just to get it out of the way: Invoking the Fifth Amendment doesn’t mean you’re guilty.