Witnesses mute at U.S. hearing on tainted money

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two lawyers and a lobbyist invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions on Thursday by a Senate subcommittee investigating the flow of corrupt foreign money into the United States.

The three are accused of helping the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea move more than $100 million into U.S. bank accounts, according to a report by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

The panel is holding a hearing on whether to close legal loopholes to stem the flow of illegal money.

The subcommittee's report, issued Wednesday, recommended new restrictions on lawyers, lobbyists, real estate and escrow agents to prevent them aiding money laundering by foreigners.

(Reporting by Dan Margolies; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)