Rubio: ‘All options should be on table’ if Flynn refuses new subpoenas

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) warned former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday that “all options should be on the table” if he does not comply with a pair of subpoenas issued by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“I hope Gen. Flynn decides to comply with our Intel Committee subpoena to produce business documents. Otherwise all options should be on table,” Rubio, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, wrote on Twitter.

I hope Gen.Flynn decides to comply with our Intel Committee subpoena to produce business documents. Otherwise all options should be on table

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 23, 2017

Rubio’s comments followed an announcement by the top lawmakers on the Intelligence panel that they were issuing subpoenas for two businesses associated with Flynn, who a day earlier rejected the committee’s initial request for documents related to its probe of Russian election meddling.

{mosads}In his refusal to turn over the documents, Flynn claimed his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and argued that an “escalating public frenzy” has emerged around the investigation.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) on Tuesday said that “everything is on the table” should Flynn not respond to the new subpoenas, suggesting that Flynn could be held in contempt of Congress.

“We’ve taken the actions we feel are appropriate right now. If there is not a response, we will seek additional counsel advice on how to proceed forward. At the end of that option is a contempt charge,” Burr told reporters. “I’ve said everything is on the table.”

Flynn has emerged as a central figure in the House and Senate Intelligence committees’ ongoing probes into Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion between members of the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

He was forced to resign as President Trump’s national security adviser in February amid revelations that he discussed sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential transition and failed to disclose the nature of the conversations with top White House officials.

Flynn has offered to testify before Congress if granted immunity from prosecution. Lawmakers, however, have ultimately turned down that request.