Flynn refuses to hand over documents

President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination and declined to hand over documents sought under subpoena by a Senate panel investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US election.

In a letter to the Senate intelligence committee, Gen Flynn’s attorneys justified the decision by citing an “escalating public frenzy against him”.

“The context in which the committee has called for Gen 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,” the attorneys wrote.

Gen Flynn’s decision not to co-operate with the Senate committee represents a new legal complication.