WASHINGTON Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn declined on Monday to comply with a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee as it investigates possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.He invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, as first reported by the Associated Press, citing sources close to Flynn, and confirmed by Senate aides. The retired lieutenant general, a key witness in the Russia probe, sent a letter to the committee informing members of his decision.Flynn's lawyer did not return requests for comment.The Senate Intelligence Committee is conducting one of the main congressional probes into U.S. intelligence agency allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and whether there was any collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia.The committee first requested documents from Flynn in an April 28 letter, but he declined to cooperate with the request. His attorney wrote to the committee that “the context in which the Committee has called for General Flynn’s testimonial production of documents makes clear that he has more than a reasonable apprehension that any testimony he provides could be used against him.”

Flynn’s legal team said he was rejecting the subpoena because the committee spurned his offer, made by the retired Army general in a May 8 letter, “to give a full account of the facts and to answer the committee’s questions, should the circumstances permit, including assurances against unfair prosecution.
According to sources familiar with his decision, former U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn invokes his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and declines to comply with a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.