Former adviser to former President Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, was convicted Thursday of contempt of Congress.
The conviction came after a short trial over defying a subpoena related to Jan. 6, 2021.
BREAKING: Former Trump adviser Navarro convicted of contempt after defying Jan. 6 subpoena https://t.co/Qrg3cx183Q
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 7, 2023
"The verdict came after a short trial. Navarro was the second Trump aide to face contempt of Congress charges after former White House adviser Steve Banno, who was convicted of two counts and was sentenced to four months behind bars, though he has been free pending appeal," Fox News reported.
"Judge Amit Mehta scheduled Navarro's sentencing for Jan. 12, 2024. He was convicted in Washington's federal courthouse of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress, both punishable by up to a year behind bars," it added.
Two days of trial, four hours of deliberations, guilty verdict for Navarro. Open and shut case. https://t.co/6UL0FLInmf
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) September 8, 2023
“Our government only works when people play by the rules and it only works when people are held accountable when they do not,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi during closing arguments Thursday. “When a person intentionally and deliberately chooses to defy a congressional subpoena, that is a crime.”
“The defendant chose allegiance to former President Trump over compliance with a subpoena,” Aloi continued. “The defendant chose defiance.”
Navarro claimed that Trump advised him to defy the subpoena and assert executive privilege concerning the February subpoena.
The judge ruled against the request, convicting him after a short two-day trial that could lead to up to one year in prison.
The sentencing will come more than three years after the events of Jan. 6, 2021, with much controversy over whether Navarro should spend time in prison for his defiance.
The move comes as Trump also faces multiple upcoming trials that could have a major impact on the 2024 presidential election, including his own charges in Washington over the events of Jan. 6.
