WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has backed a decision by his former national security adviser to seek immunity in congressional investigations of possible ties between his election campaign and Russia, but there was no immediate sign a request would be granted.

Retired General Michael Flynn, who resigned only 24 days after becoming national security adviser, wants protection against “unfair prosecution” if he testifies before the intelligence committees of the US Senate and the House of Representatives, his lawyer, Robert Kelner, said on Thursday.

Testimony from Flynn could help shed light on the conversations he had last year with Sergei Kislyak, Russian ambassador to the United States, while national security adviser for Trump’s presidential campaign.

US Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives intelligence committee, said it was too soon to consider immunity requests.

“As with any investigation – and particularly one that grows in severity and magnitude by the day – there is still much work and many more witnesses and documents to obtain before any immunity request from any witness can be considered,” he said in a statement.

Schiff said the House intelligence panel would discuss any request with the Justice Department and the Senate Intelligence Committee, describing such a request “a grave and momentous step.”

Schiff on Friday was allowed to see documents at the White House that previously had been seen only by the Republican chairman of the intelligence committee.

Trump, a Republican, said in a tweet that Democrats were instigating the congressional investigations because they were upset about his November 8 victory over their party’s candidate, Hillary Clinton.

“Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!” Trump said.

Trump would not comment further when asked about Flynn during a White House meeting with US manufacturers.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer was asked at a news briefing if he was concerned thatFlynn could provide information that could be harmful to the administration and replied, “Nope.”

He said Trump wanted Flynn to testify to “get this matter behind us” but declined to say specifically that he should be granted immunity.

“The president is very clear that he wants Mike Flynn to go and be completely open and transparent with the committee, and whatever it takes to do that he is supportive of,” Spicer said.

– Reuters