Flynn rejects Trump-Russia subpoena

washington» President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in rebuffing a subpoena Monday in the investigation into Russia’s election meddling. Then a top House Democrat cited new evidence he said appeared to show Flynn lied on a security clearance background check.

With Trump himself in the Mideast on his first foreign trip as president, investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign — and allegations of Trump campaign collaboration — showed no sign of slackening in Washington. Flynn’s own defensive crouch revealed the high legal stakes he faces as investigations intensify: a U.S. counterintelligence probe of Russia, a federal investigation in Virginia and multiple congressional inquiries.

As well, The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump asked two top intelligence chiefs in March to deny publicly that there had been collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign.

Citing current and former officials, the Post said the national intelligence director, Daniel Coats, and the director of the National Security Agency, Adm. Michael S. Rogers, both refused Trump’s request, judging it inappropriate.

Hours later, Rep. Elijah Cummings, senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, said government documents he has reviewed showed inconsistencies in Flynn’s disclosures to U.S. investigators in early 2016 during his security clearance review. Cummings said Flynn appeared to have misled authorities about the source of a $33,000 payment from Russia’s statesponsored television network, failed to identify foreign officials with whom he met and glossed over his firing as chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Obama administration.