Rhode Island Witness (Not the Defendant) Who Takes the Fifth Amendment refers to a witness who is not the defendant and is testifying in a Rhode Island court who invokes the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. This right is protected under the US Constitution and allows a witness to refuse to answer any questions that may incriminate them or subject them to criminal prosecution. The witness must invoke the right in a clear and unambiguous manner in order to be protected. There are two types of Rhode Island Witnesses (Not the Defendant) Who Take the Fifth Amendment: those who take the Fifth Amendment before the questioning begins, and those who take the Fifth Amendment during questioning.