US judiciary
Trump adviser convicted of contempt of Congress
Peter Navarro, former advisor to former US President Trump, faces between 30 days and a year in prison. photo
© Mark Schiefelbein/AP/dpa
Peter Navarro is supposed to testify about the attack on the US Capitol and does not accept the invitation – he cites alleged privileges as an advisor to the then president. A jury sees it differently.
“Peter Navarro has made a decision,” quoted the Washington Post, among others, from prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi’s closing argument. “He chose not to comply with a congressional subpoena. Our government only works when people follow the rules. And it only works if they are held accountable when they don’t.” Navarro had argued that he failed to comply with the subpoena because Trump instructed him to say he was exempt from it under executive privilege.
Navarro is the second Trump adviser convicted of failing to cooperate with the committee. Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was sentenced to four months in prison last fall for contempt of Congress, but appealed the decision and remains at large pending the outcome. Navarro also announced that he would take action against the decision.
The investigative committee examined the events of January 6, 2021: On that day, Trump’s supporters violently stormed the Parliament building in Washington, where Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election was about to be confirmed.