Peter Navarro found guilty of contempt for defying Jan. 6 committee.
A Federal Jury Finds Peter Navarro Guilty of Ignoring Congressional Requests
A federal jury has delivered a verdict in the case of former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro. After nearly four hours of deliberation, Navarro has been found guilty on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress. The charges stem from his refusal to produce documents and testify before the House Jan. 6 committee.
Navarro’s Defiance of Congressional Pursuit
Prosecutors argued that Navarro’s actions were a defiance of the congressional panel’s pursuit of evidence regarding his knowledge and involvement in former President Donald Trump’s attempt to subvert the 2020 election results. Each count of criminal contempt of Congress carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.
“So today’s ‘Judgment Day,'” Navarro told reporters before entering the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where the jury decided his fate.
Navarro’s Claim of Executive Privilege
Throughout the trial, Navarro maintained that Trump instructed him to ignore the committee’s subpoena and assert executive privilege. He believed he would be immune from cooperating with the now defunct committee. However, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Navarro’s assertion of executive privilege was not supported by legal precedent.
The Subpoena and Noncompliance
Navarro’s lawyer argued that the subpoena was more complex than the prosecution claimed. They also contended that the government failed to prove Navarro’s noncompliance was willful, suggesting it may have been an accident or mistake.
Navarro’s Role in Alleged Voter Fraud Claims
The committee subpoenaed Navarro to understand his shift from being Trump’s trade adviser to focusing on alleged widespread voter fraud after the 2020 election. Navarro made several television appearances claiming to have evidence of election fraud and even proposed a strategy called the “Green Bay Sweep” to delay the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
Second Former Trump Aide Prosecuted
Navarro’s guilty verdict marks the second former Trump aide to be prosecuted for failing to cooperate with the committee. Steve Bannon was convicted last year on two contempt counts and is currently awaiting appeal of his four-month prison sentence.
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