But reading FindLaw on the fifth just now sheds a different light on it:
At trial, the Fifth Amendment gives a criminal defendant the right not to testify. This means that the prosecutor, the judge, and even the defendants own lawyer cannot force the defendant to take the witness stand against his or her will. However, a defendant who does choose to testify cannot choose to answer some questions but not others. Once the defendant takes the witness stand, this particular Fifth Amendment right is considered waived throughout the trial.See "Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination"
Except if you're Lois Lerner.
“At trial, the Fifth Amendment gives a criminal defendant the right not to testify. This means that the prosecutor, the judge, and even the defendants own lawyer cannot force the defendant to take the witness stand against his or her will. However, a defendant who does choose to testify cannot choose to answer some questions but not others. Once the defendant takes the witness stand, this particular Fifth Amendment right is considered waived throughout the trial.”
~~~~
IF this is true, then this guy is doing it the right way, but all those times that people chose to appear and respond to questions but take the fifth could have been pressed and even held in contempt????