Video: Former Trump trade adviser speaks after being sentenced to prison
President Donald Trump’s former trade adviser Peter Navarro has been sentenced to four months in prison and fined $9,500 (about £7,500) for contempt of Congress.
Navarro was found guilty in September of ignoring a subpoena from a House committee investigating allegations of trying to overturn the 2020 election.
Federal prosecutors said he “chose loyalty to former President Donald Trump over the rule of law.”
Navarro has vowed to appeal and take the case to the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors had asked for Navarro, 74, to be sentenced to six months in prison. His lawyer argued that he was “not an insurrectionist” and asked for no jail time.
Mr. Navarro was served with a subpoena by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee in February 2022.
But he did not provide any of the requested emails or documents and had no plans to testify before the Democratic-led committee.
When contacted by the committee, Navarro said Trump directed him to cite executive privilege. This is a legal principle that allows certain White House communications to remain private.
But the judge ruled there was no evidence that Mr. Trump could have requested it, or that executive privilege could have allowed Mr. Navarro to ignore the committee’s subpoena. was lowered.
He was found guilty by a 12-member jury after four hours of deliberations following a two-day trial in Washington, D.C., last year.
Addressing the court Thursday, Judge Amit Mehta said he had “tremendous respect” for Mr. Navarro, adding that he was “disappointed by his behavior.”
“These kinds of statements from someone who knows better are part of why our politics is so corrupt. It’s unfortunate.”
The judge also noted Navarro’s work with U.S. companies to speed up production of COVID-19 protective equipment during the pandemic, saying, “The country is giving you credit for your efforts in combating the coronavirus.” I think we have a duty of gratitude.”
In his 2021 book, In Trump Time, Navarro alleges widespread voter fraud and said he was the one who designed the strategy to contest the 2020 election results.
The plan was for Congressional Republicans to delay certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.
The House committee said Navarro’s claims of massive voter fraud have been debunked by state and local officials.
Addressing the judge, Navarro said he was “disappointed” that he was not allowed to raise an executive privilege defense.
“The moment the violence erupted at the Capitol was one of the worst moments of my life,” he said.
Judge Mehta said Mr. Navarro’s actions were an attempt to thwart “Congress’ tremendous effort to uncover the truth about that terrible day in our nation’s history.”
“They had a job to do and you made it difficult. It’s really that simple,” he added.
“We’re caught up in a battle between two opposing branches of government,” Navarro told reporters after the verdict, referring to Congress and the White House.
He said his case “requires the Supreme Court,” which should decide “whether a senior White House aide and alter ego of the president can be forced to testify before Congress.” Stated.
His case has similarities to another Trump aide who was convicted of disobeying the committee on January 6th.
Former Trump campaign strategist Steve Bannon was found guilty in July 2022 of two counts of contempt for refusing a legal subpoena by a House committee.
Mr. Bannon was also sentenced to four months in prison, but remains free while his defense team appeals the conviction.
