WASHINGTON • Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn will decline to comply with a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee probing possible Russian interference in the United States presidential election last year, according to media reports.

Mr Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and Fox News reported yesterday, citing sources close to him.

The retired lieutenant-general, a key witness in the Russia probe, planned to inform the panel of his decision later yesterday, the reports said.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is conducting one of the main congressional probes of alleged Russian meddling in the US presidential election and whether there was any collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia.

The committee first requested documents from Mr Flynn in an April 28 letter, but he declined to cooperate with the request.

The US intelligence community concluded in January that Moscow tried to sway the November vote in Mr Trump's favour. Russia has denied involvement and Mr Trump insists he won fair and square.

Mr Flynn was forced to resign in February, after less than a month on the job, for failing to disclose the content of his talks with Mr Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the US, and then misleading Vice-President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Mr Flynn had offered to testify to Congress in return for immunity from prosecution but his offer was turned down by the House intelligence committee.

Reuters reported last Thursday that Mr Flynn and other advisers to Mr Trump's campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and e-mails during the last seven months of the US presidential race.

Mr Flynn has acknowledged being a paid consultant to the Turkish government during the campaign.

REUTERS