President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn has invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination - which is a fundamental principle included in the Bill of Rights. <\/p>\n
Below is a look at how invoking the Fifth Amendment works, and what may happen with the investigation. <\/p>\n
How do witnesses use the Fifth Amendment? <\/p>\n
The amendment offers numerous legal protections for defendants, with the most famous one shieldinga witness from self-incrimination. <\/p>\n
Witnesses have invoked it in order to avoid testifying against themselves, or to avoid being forced to produce documents that could be used against them. <\/p>\n
Does invoking the Fifth Amendment mean someone is guilty? <\/p>\n
No. Invoking it doesn't mean that a witness is guilty of any crime or even that the person has anything to hide. <\/p>\n
However, it can reflect a witness's concern that any testimony given would be interpreted in an unfavorable way, or may be used as evidence in a prosecution. <\/p>\n
Flynn and Trump have previously pointed to invoking the Fifth Amendment as a sign of guilt during the Hillary Clinton email investigation. <\/p>\n
FLYNN INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT, REBUFFS SENATE PANEL SUBPOENA <\/p>\n
What about Flynn's case? <\/p>\n
Flynn is refusing to provide documents to a Senate committee investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. A Senate intelligence committee subpoena is seeking a list of all contacts between Flynn and Russian officials during an 18-month period. <\/p>\n
Flynn isn't admitting to wrongdoing but is looking to protect himself from \"an escalating public frenzy\" of \"outrageous allegations,\" his lawyers said in a Monday letter to the committee. <\/p>\n
What will happen to the investigation? <\/p>\n
Flynn's decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment may hamper the committee's investigation. However, lawmakers could try to obtain some documents on their own or get information they want from another witness. <\/p>\n
The committee also could file a claim in federal court to try to force Flynn to testify and produce documents - which could take months. <\/p>\n
HUME: INVOKING THE 5TH AMENDMENT IS A SMART MOVE <\/p>\n
What about offering Flynn immunity? <\/p>\n
The committee could offer Flynn immunity in exchange for his testimony, but that could complicate any subsequent Justice Department criminal prosecution. <\/p>\n
The FBI would be unable to use the immunized testimony, or evidence derived from it, to build a case, though a witness can still be prosecuted for false statements or for evidence of other crimes. The committee would have to alert the attorney general before making such an offer. <\/p>\n
The Associated Press contributed to this report. <\/p>\n
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