Peter Navarro, a former Trump adviser, has been handed a four-month jail sentence for contempt of Congress, marking his refusal to comply with a subpoena linked to the investigation into the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.
Convicted in September on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a House select committee subpoena, Navarro faced criticism from US District Judge Amit Mehta during sentencing. Mehta dismissed Navarro’s claim that his prosecution was politically motivated, asserting that Navarro was responsible for his own circumstances, stating, “You are not a victim. You are not the object of a political prosecution.”
Alongside the jail term, Navarro received a $9,500 fine. Swiftly appealing the case to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, Navarro’s defense hinges on Trump’s alleged invocation of executive privilege. Prosecutors initially sought a concurrent six-month jail term for each contempt count, coupled with a $200,000 fine. They likened Navarro’s non-compliance to the actions of Capitol rioters, emphasizing that he “chose allegiance to former President Donald Trump over the rule of law.”
Navarro’s conviction stands as a victory for the House January 6 committee, aligning with its pursuit of criminal charges against non-cooperating individuals. Steve Bannon, another former Trump adviser, faced a similar conviction in 2022 and received a four-month prison sentence, currently under appeal. Navarro’s defense is aiming for no more than six months of probation per count, urging a pause in the sentence during the appeal process.
