Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has been found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress for his refusal to cooperate with a congressional panel investigating the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol Building.
Navarro, 74, was convicted by a Washington, DC jury, after four hours of deliberations on Thursday – a day after the start of the trial – for his failure to produce documents and comply with subpoena requests for evidence issued last year by the House. Select Committee 6 Jan.
The former White House official intends to mount a defense centered on his claim that executive privilege was invoked by former President Donald Trump, shielding him from subpoenas.
However, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Wednesday that Navarro had failed to meet the burden of proof required to show that executive privilege had been invoked and that he could not use it as a defense.
Navarro faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for each charge, and a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail for each felony.
Navarro faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.Getty Images
The Justice Department argued during closing arguments that Navarro “made a choice” to resist a congressional committee subpoena in February 2022.
“The defendant chose loyalty to former President Donald Trump over compliance with the subpoena,” DOJ prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi told the jury.
Navarro will be sentenced in January.Getty Images
Prosecutors argued that Navarro chose “loyalty” to Trump over complying with a congressional subpoena. Getty Images
Navarro told reporters outside court that he was not surprised by the guilty verdict.
“The day Judge Mehta ruled that I could not use executive privilege as a defense in this case, the die was cast,” he said.
“This is pro forma pro forma. We know the decision will be made,” he added, noting that he would appeal the decision.
“I said from the beginning, this will go to the Supreme Court. I said from the beginning, I am willing to go to jail to solve this issue. I am willing to do so. But I also know that the possibility of me going to jail is quite small because we are right on this issue,” he said.
Navarro left court Thursday after the verdict.Getty Images
Navarro is the second former Trump administration official to be convicted of contempt of Congress.
Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was found guilty of two counts in July 2022 and sentenced to four months in prison. Bannon is now free pending his appeal.
Navarro’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2024.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
