Peter Navarro, a former aide to ex-President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to four months in jail for contempt of Congress. The sentence is a result of Navarro’s refusal to comply with a Congressional subpoena related to the investigation into the January 6 insurrection, during which he played an active role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta conveyed a stern message to Navarro, stating that he was not a victim of political prosecution and emphasized that the circumstances leading to the contempt charges were of Navarro’s own making. The judge highlighted that Navarro had received due process and that, when called to testify before Congress, he did not show the same degree of respect that he had been afforded. The judge expressed regret over Navarro’s lack of cooperation.
Navarro’s request for a new trial, following his conviction on two counts of contempt of Congress in September, was denied earlier this month. In addition to the jail term, Navarro was fined $9,500. It is expected that he will appeal both the sentence and his conviction.
During the court proceedings, Navarro claimed that he was torn and did not know how to navigate the conflict between the legislative and executive branches when issued the subpoena. His defense suggested that his refusal to comply was due to being caught in a difficult position.
[Y]ou are not a victim. You are not the object of a political prosecution… These are circumstances of your own making. You have received every process you are due… as any American is entitled to… the same respect that I hope I have shown you… when you were called up to go to testify, you didn’t show a co-equal branch of Congress the same degree of respect, and it’s regrettable.
Navarro’s sentencing comes after Steve Bannon, another former Trump advisor, was also convicted of contempt of Congress and received a four-month jail sentence. Both Navarro and Bannon are the second individuals in Trump’s circle to face legal consequences for their refusal to testify before Congress regarding their roles in efforts to overturn election results. The convictions highlight the legal scrutiny faced by individuals associated with Trump in relation to the events surrounding the January 6 insurrection.
