Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, released the following statement about former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to be a witness against himself:

“According to multiple media reports, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn will invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify or provide documents to the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating Russia’s collusion with Trump campaign officials in the 2016 Presidential election. But according to the President, pleading the Fifth is something only ‘guilty’ people do.

“While campaigning last year, Trump blasted people who plead the Fifth in connection with the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server. “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment,” Trump asked. “The mob takes the Fifth Amendment,” he added.

“Now we’re left to wonder if his same standard also applies to Flynn. Either way, the American people deserve the truth, with or without Flynn’s cooperation.”