SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Michael Flynn stepped down in February after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with the Russian government. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/flickr/cc)
Flynn to Plead Fifth, Refuse Compliance With Senate Subpoenas
News prompted comparisons of former national security adviser's own comments mocking those who take protection against self-incrimination
May 22, 2017
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Monday will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to hand over documents subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to news reports.
Flynn will not give the panel documents detailing his interactions with Russian officials as part of the ongoing investigation into possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. The former national security adviser stepped down in February after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with the Russian government.
Monday's news prompted scornful comparisons to Flynn's and other Trump administration officials' own previous remarks mocking those who took the Fifth Amendment.
\u201cFlashback to Flynn on @MeetThePress in 2016: "When you're given immunity, that means you probably committed a crime" https://t.co/lWpfGxQrcJ https://t.co/lOGOIjhZpi\u201d— Monica Alba (@Monica Alba) 1495461848
\u201cMichael Flynn, call your office. Your buddy has some advice for you. https://t.co/28k2NB4yEK\u201d— April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online) (@April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online)) 1495463278
\u201cIt is perfectly legitimate to ask why someone would take the fifth if they are not guilty - just ask Sean Spicer and Michael Flynn:\u201d— Facts Do Matter (@Facts Do Matter) 1495462341
The Senate committee reportedly sought documents involving contacts between any Trump campaign associates and Russian officials and businesses--including text messages, emails, letters, phone records, and financial information.
Legal experts anticipated that Flynn was unlikely to hand over any records without immunity, having previously described the investigation as "unfair prosecution."
Last week, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said Flynn was "not cooperating" with the probe and had not given a "definitive answer" on whether he would testify. Both the House and Senate panels investigating the allegations turned down Flynn's offer to testify in exchange for immunity.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Monday will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to hand over documents subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to news reports.
Flynn will not give the panel documents detailing his interactions with Russian officials as part of the ongoing investigation into possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. The former national security adviser stepped down in February after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with the Russian government.
Monday's news prompted scornful comparisons to Flynn's and other Trump administration officials' own previous remarks mocking those who took the Fifth Amendment.
\u201cFlashback to Flynn on @MeetThePress in 2016: "When you're given immunity, that means you probably committed a crime" https://t.co/lWpfGxQrcJ https://t.co/lOGOIjhZpi\u201d— Monica Alba (@Monica Alba) 1495461848
\u201cMichael Flynn, call your office. Your buddy has some advice for you. https://t.co/28k2NB4yEK\u201d— April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online) (@April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online)) 1495463278
\u201cIt is perfectly legitimate to ask why someone would take the fifth if they are not guilty - just ask Sean Spicer and Michael Flynn:\u201d— Facts Do Matter (@Facts Do Matter) 1495462341
The Senate committee reportedly sought documents involving contacts between any Trump campaign associates and Russian officials and businesses--including text messages, emails, letters, phone records, and financial information.
Legal experts anticipated that Flynn was unlikely to hand over any records without immunity, having previously described the investigation as "unfair prosecution."
Last week, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said Flynn was "not cooperating" with the probe and had not given a "definitive answer" on whether he would testify. Both the House and Senate panels investigating the allegations turned down Flynn's offer to testify in exchange for immunity.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Monday will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to hand over documents subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to news reports.
Flynn will not give the panel documents detailing his interactions with Russian officials as part of the ongoing investigation into possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. The former national security adviser stepped down in February after revelations that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with the Russian government.
Monday's news prompted scornful comparisons to Flynn's and other Trump administration officials' own previous remarks mocking those who took the Fifth Amendment.
\u201cFlashback to Flynn on @MeetThePress in 2016: "When you're given immunity, that means you probably committed a crime" https://t.co/lWpfGxQrcJ https://t.co/lOGOIjhZpi\u201d— Monica Alba (@Monica Alba) 1495461848
\u201cMichael Flynn, call your office. Your buddy has some advice for you. https://t.co/28k2NB4yEK\u201d— April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online) (@April (@ReignOfApril@mastodon.online)) 1495463278
\u201cIt is perfectly legitimate to ask why someone would take the fifth if they are not guilty - just ask Sean Spicer and Michael Flynn:\u201d— Facts Do Matter (@Facts Do Matter) 1495462341
The Senate committee reportedly sought documents involving contacts between any Trump campaign associates and Russian officials and businesses--including text messages, emails, letters, phone records, and financial information.
Legal experts anticipated that Flynn was unlikely to hand over any records without immunity, having previously described the investigation as "unfair prosecution."
Last week, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said Flynn was "not cooperating" with the probe and had not given a "definitive answer" on whether he would testify. Both the House and Senate panels investigating the allegations turned down Flynn's offer to testify in exchange for immunity.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.