08 September 2023 , 09:24
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Another former aide to ex-President Donald Trump could face jail time after he was found guilty of contempt of Congress.
The short trial saw Peter Navarro guilty of refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack and riots on the US Capitol in Washington DC.
In DC's federal courthouse, Navarro was convicted of two misdemeanour counts of contempt of Congress. US District Judge Amit Mehta scheduled Navarro's sentencing for January 12 and the former trade adviser could face up to a year behind bars for each charge.
Navarro has already said he will appeal, arguing Trump invoking executive privilege meant he could not cooperate with the committee. “This is a landmark case that’s bound for the Supreme Court,” Navarro claimed and defence attorney John Rowley added that “this case is not over by a long shot.”
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Navarro, right, faces up to two years behind bars (AFP via Getty Images)Outside the court, Navarro said: "This is the first time in the history of our republic that a senior White House adviser, an alter ego of the president, has ever been charged with this alleged crime." he added that it was a "sad day for America."
Defence attorneys also argued for a mistrial, claiming jurors had taken an outdoor break near where protesters and media regularly gather outside the courthouse and came back with a verdict shortly after. Judge Mehta said he would consider written arguments on the issue.
Prosecutors said the case was about allegiances. “Peter Navarro made a choice... He chose not to abide by the congressional subpoena,” prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi said. “The defendant chose allegiance to former President Donald Trump over compliance to the subpoena.”
Navarro is expected to appeal the verdict (Bonnie Cash/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)The US House of Representatives select committee served Navarro with a subpoena in February 2022. Navarro did not hand over any of the emails or documents to the panel, which was investigating the January 6 riots when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol the day the election results were due to be certified.
Navarro had promoted Trump’s baseless claims of mass voter fraud, and the committee thought he might have more information about any connection those claims had to the attack, prosecutor John Crabb said.
“It wasn’t voluntary. It wasn’t an invitation. A subpoena is a legal requirement,” Crabb said. “We are a nation of laws and our system doesn’t work if people believe they are above the law.”
Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 (AP)The defence said Navarro had not acted "wilfully" or just out of loyalty to the 45th president, who faces federal and state indictments in Washington DC and Georgia respectively regarding efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump has long claimed, falsely, the election was stolen from him and he has denied wrongdoing.
“The evidence in this case will not show that Dr Navarro was willful in his failure to comply,” Woodward said.
It makes Navarro the second Trump aide to face contempt of Congress charges after former White House adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months when he was found guilty in October last year. Bannon has been out on appeal since.