Former Trump Adviser Peter Navarro Sentenced to Four Months in Jail for Contempt of Congress
Peter Navarro, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to four months in jail for contempt of Congress. This comes after Navarro defied a subpoena related to the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. Navarro was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress in September for failing to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the attack.
Navarro’s sentence is seen as of his “own making” by the judge overseeing the case, who criticized Navarro for claiming that his prosecution was politically motivated. US District Judge Amit Mehta stated, “You are not a victim. You are not the object of a political prosecution. These are the circumstances of your own making.” In addition to the jail sentence, Navarro has been fined $9,500.
Navarro has appealed the case to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, with his attorneys arguing that he did not comply with the subpoena because Trump had invoked executive privilege. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of six months for each count and a fine of $200,000, stating that Navarro’s refusal to cooperate with the subpoenas was similar to the conduct of individuals who participated in the riot.
Navarro’s conviction and sentence represent a significant victory for the House January 6 committee, which aims to have the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against those who refused to cooperate with its probe. This follows the conviction and sentencing of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on similar charges.
During Navarro’s trial, prosecutors presented evidence that showed Navarro had knowledge of a plan to delay Congress’s activities on January 6 but refused to share this information with the House committee. His attorneys focused on proving that Navarro’s lack of compliance was deliberate and not accidental, as required by the contempt charge.
Navarro has argued that he did not comply with the subpoena at the direction of Trump, who he claimed invoked executive privilege. However, the judge concluded that Navarro had not provided sufficient evidence to prove this assertion. Navarro plans to raise this issue and others on appeal.
The federal appeals court in DC is currently considering Bannon’s appeal to overturn his own contempt of Congress conviction. During oral arguments, some judges appeared skeptical of Bannon’s claims that he should have been allowed to assert executive privilege as part of his defense.
In conclusion, Peter Navarro’s sentencing for contempt of Congress marks another victory for the House January 6 committee. Navarro’s refusal to comply with the subpoena and his claims of political prosecution have been dismissed by the judge overseeing the case. As Navarro appeals the conviction, the outcome will shed light on the requirements for invoking executive privilege and may have implications for future cases involving senior advisers to the President.
