Former Donald Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has been found guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Navarro is the second ex-aide to the former president to face prosecution for failing to cooperate with the committee. Steve Bannon was convicted on two counts of contempt last year, and his case is currently on appeal. Navarro plans to appeal the verdict, citing executive privilege issues.
During his trial, Navarro stated that he anticipated the guilty verdict and plans to take the case to the appeals court. He expressed his willingness to go to prison, highlighting the significance of the matter. When asked about his communication with former President Trump and any assistance he had received for legal bills, Navarro referred to Trump as a reliable source of support but did not provide further details.
After the verdict was read, Navarro’s lawyers requested a mistrial, raising concerns about potential influence from protestors during a break taken by jurors. The motion is yet to be ruled on by Judge Amit Mehta, who set Navarro’s sentencing for January 12, 2024. The guilty verdict was celebrated by Tim Mulvey, a former spokesperson for the House January 6 committee, who commended the decision as a reminder that no one is above the law.
Prosecutors argued during closing arguments that Navarro chose not to comply with the subpoena issued in February 2022. The Justice Department attorney emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, as the functioning of the government relies on adherence to the rules. Navarro’s attorney contested this, claiming that the subpoena lacked specificity and failed to establish that his non-compliance was intentional.
The courtroom proceedings were tense, with prosecutor John Crabb referring to Navarro dismissively as “that man” and alleging that he believed himself to be above the law. Navarro reacted strongly to these accusations, occasionally using gestures to convey his frustration. The jury observed the arguments closely, with Navarro watching them intently throughout.
After the jury was dismissed, Navarro’s defense team requested a mistrial due to concerns about protestors’ potential influence over the jurors during their break. Judge Mehta acknowledged that the jury had taken an outdoor break but was unaware of any protestors in the vicinity. He stated that he would need additional evidence before ruling on the mistrial request.
Navarro encountered protests as he left the courthouse following the guilty verdict. He expressed his disappointment and frustration with the division in the country, citing a divide between the “woke Marxist left” and everyone else. Navarro, known for his role in trade advising and Covid-19 response during the Trump administration, had previously fought to argue that Trump’s executive privilege protected him from the subpoena. He plans to raise this and other legal matters on appeal if convicted.
The trial progressed swiftly, with the jury hearing all evidence in less than a day. Prosecutors presented only three witnesses, all former staff members of the House January 6 committee, to establish that Navarro was aware of the subpoena and chose not to comply. In his closing argument, Navarro’s defense attorney sought to downplay the relevance of the attack on the Capitol, framing it as a distraction. The defense focused on proving that Navarro’s non-compliance was not deliberate or willful.
Navarro’s defense team chose not to cross-examine the government’s witnesses extensively and did not present their own witnesses. Ultimately, they were centered on proving that Navarro’s failure to comply was unintentional. The defense had initially planned to call an FBI agent to testify but abandoned the idea.
Overall, the trial highlighted Navarro’s refusal to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Capitol attack and will likely have ramifications for future legal battles involving former Trump aides.
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