(RepublicanPress.org) – In September 2023, former President Donald Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, was convicted by a Washington, DC, jury on two criminal counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena issued by the January 6 Committee. According to reports, the trial only lasted a day. For his crime, Navarro was facing up to 12 months in prison and a $200,000 fine. He was recently sentenced.
On January 25, CBS News reported that the court sentenced the former official to four months in prison and a $9,500 fine. That decision from Judge Amit Mehta fell far short of what the prosecution was requesting — a $600,000 fine and six months behind bars. However, Navarro was not immediately remanded. Instead, he was allowed to go free while his attorneys appealed the verdict.
Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro is sentenced to 4 months in prison for contempt of Congress. https://t.co/33qLGVfmdL
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 25, 2024
The former advisor spoke at his sentencing, stating he believed he was covered under executive privilege when the committee issued the subpoena and didn’t have to comply. The court disagreed with that belief and convicted him in short order. The January 6 Committee issued the subpoena in February 2022 as part of their investigation into the insurrection. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a statement that the group believed Navarro had “information directly relevant” to the investigation. In turn, the former advisor said the committee was being “domestic terrorists,” calling its efforts a “partisan witch hunt.”
The prosecution told the judge at Navarro’s sentencing that he had “utter disregard” for the January 6 Committee’s work. Federal prosecutor John Crabb said the matter was not “partisan” but a “righteous prosecution.” Mehta said he was disappointed with Navarro’s behavior, stating he “knows better,” pointing out that the former advisor holds a doctorate from Harvard, showing he’s smart. The judge said executive privilege is not an automatic “get-out-of-jail-free card,” and his sentence was to reflect the congressional efforts to investigate January 6.
Still, Navarro’s attorney said they are not done fighting in this case, adding the issues were complicated.
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