Fox News anchor Sandra Smith interjected during ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro’s press conference, immediately challenging his characterization of his offense as an “alleged crime.” Navarro, who was sentenced to four months in federal prison for Contempt of Congress after defying a Jan. 6 Committee subpoena, faced Smith’s fact-checking as he prepared to surrender to Federal Correctional Institution Miami.
Navarro repeatedly referred to his actions as an “alleged crime,” arguing that for centuries, his actions had not constituted a crime, citing the Department of Justice’s historical principle of absolute testimony immunity. However, Smith quickly corrected him, emphasizing that his conviction had solidified the fact that he was indeed guilty of the offense.
She pointed out that there was no evidence to support Navarro’s claim of executive privilege exempting him from testifying before Congress, despite his status as a senior White House adviser. Smith also noted that Navarro’s conviction was upheld, with a recent refusal by John Roberts to delay his prison sentence, even as Navarro continued to appeal.
Smith concluded by highlighting Navarro’s impending prison term and his ongoing legal battles related to his refusal to testify regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
PETER NAVARRO: So let’s let’s talk about some facts here. I am the first senior White House adviser in the history of our republic that has ever been charged with this alleged crime.
And I say alleged because for hundreds of years, this is not been a crime. And for 50 years, the Department of Justice has maintained the principle of absolute testimony immunity. And it was only with my case that somehow, that has changed.
And here’s here’s where the homework is, because the big constitutional separation of powers are these. Can Congress compel a senior White House adviser, what they call the alter ego of a president to testify before Congress? And and executive privilege goes back to George Washington and his remarks to the Congress regarding the Jay Treaty. And he said very simply and clearly, succinctly, elegantly that to write to the Congress, he said, “I cannot command you as members of Congress to come to me. You cannot command me to come to you.” And the reason is–
SANDRA SMITH: All right. And he will be reporting to that prison, 2 p.m. Eastern time there in Miami to serve his four-month prison sentence.
He began by saying, “not about me.” He said, “this is about a crippling blow to the justice system.”.
To fact-check there. It is no longer an alleged crime that he’ll be serving this four-month sentence for. He has obviously been convicted, and there was no evidence that did, that would have excluded him, per executive privilege, from testifying.
So John Roberts just on Monday refused to delay his prison time. He continues to appeal his conviction, Peter Navarro, for refusing to testify before Congress for his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
74 years old, four months. Peter Navarro on his way to prison, speaking on his way there.
