Former Trump business adviser Peter Navarro has been found guilty of two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a congressional panel investigating the January 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol.
Navarro, 74, was convicted by a Washington, D.C., jury after four hours of deliberation Thursday, a day after the trial began, of failing to produce documents and comply with a subpoena to testify request issued last year. passed through the Chamber. January 6 Select Committee.
The former White House official intended to present a defense centered on his claim that former President Donald Trump had invoked executive privilege, protecting him from the subpoena.
However, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Wednesday that Navarro had not met the burden of proof necessary to show that executive privilege had been invoked and that he could not use it as a defense.
Navarro faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for each charge, and a minimum sentence of 30 days in prison for each offense.
Navarro faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.Getty Images
The Justice Department argued during closing arguments that Navarro “made the decision” to defy the congressional committee’s February 2022 subpoena.
“The defendant preferred loyalty to former President Donald Trump over compliance with the subpoena,” Justice Department prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi told the jury.
Navarro will be sentenced in January.Getty Images
Prosecutors argued that Navarro chose “loyalty” to Trump over complying with the congressional subpoena. fake images
Navarro told reporters outside court that he was not surprised by the guilty verdict.
“The day Judge Mehta ruled that he could not use executive privilege as a defense in this case, the die was cast,” he said.
“This was pro forma pro forma. We knew from the beginning what the verdict was going to be,” she added, noting that she will appeal the verdict.
“I said from the beginning, this is going to the Supreme Court. I said from the beginning that I am willing to go to prison to solve this problem. I’m willing to do that. But I also know that the probability of him going to prison is relatively small because we are right on this issue,” he stated.
Navarro leaves court on Thursday after the verdict.Getty Images
Navarro is the second former Trump administration official to be convicted of contempt of Congress.
Former White House adviser Steve Bannon was convicted on two counts in July 2022 and sentenced to four months in prison. Bannon is currently free pending his appeal.
Navarro’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2024.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn