Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro was sentenced Thursday to four months behind bars for flouting a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the 2021 Capitol riot.
Navarro, 74, argued that he couldn’t comply with the subpoena for his testimony and relevant documents because of executive privilege, but a DC jury convicted him in September of two counts of contempt of Congress.
“I haven’t heard a word of contrition from Dr. Navarro since this case began,” US District Judge Amit Mehta said before imposing the penalty.
The former presidential trade adviser made a plea for mercy, but Mehta still exceeded the mandatory minimum of two months of incarceration.
Navarro insisted to journalists as he arrived that he was the subject of “a very important landmark constitutional case that is going to resolve important issues about the Constitution’s separation of powers as well as the integrity and efficiency of presidential decision-making.”
The same courthouse will host former President Donald Trump’s trial for challenging the results of the 2020 election ahead of the riot. The trial is expected this year as the 77-year-old ex-president seeks a second non-consecutive term against President Biden in the November election.
