Topline
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced former Trump White House official Peter Navarro to four months in prison on two counts of contempt of Congress—a lighter sentence than the Justice Department was seeking—after Navarro refused to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 Committee.
Navarro is the second Trump aide to be convicted for contempt of Congress.
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Key Facts
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Navarro to four months in prison for contempt of Congress, along with a $9,500 fine, multiple outlets reported.
The Justice Department sought a six-month prison sentence and a fine of $200,000, with prosecutors arguing he “deserves severe punishment.”
Stanley Woodward, Navarro’s attorney, requested on Jan. 18 he receive a sentence of “no more than six months of probation” to run consecutively with each conviction and a $200 fine.
Tangent
Navarro, who is the second Trump aide to face such charges, was found guilty of contempt of Congress by a federal D.C. court jury last September. The first, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, was convicted on the same charges in October 2022.
What To Watch For
Navarro is expected to appeal the ruling, according to multiple outlets. His attorney previously requested that any sentence be immediately stayed. Any appeal would delay the sentence, as seen in the case with Bannon. Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison with a $6,500 fine and has yet to serve any time. He appealed the conviction in November and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is reviewing the case.
Key Background
Navarro refused to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 Committee, claiming he was protected by executive privilege. He was convicted on two counts, one for refusing to provide testimony and one for failing to provide documents to the committee. Navarro previously outlined the plan—dubbed the “Green Bay Sweep”—that was developed to try and overturn the results of the 2020 election, which the committee was seeking testimony on. Shortly after the 2020 election, he also published a report making false allegations of widespread voter fraud. Following its 18-month investigation, the House Jan. 6 Committee concluded in December 2022 that former president Donald Trump caused the insurrection and recommended he be barred from serving in government.
Further Reading
Former Trump adviser Navarro gets four months for contempt of Congress (Reuters)
How Peter Navarro talked himself into a federal indictment (MSNBC)
Steve Bannon Sentenced To 4 Months In Prison For Defying House Jan. 6 Subpoena (Forbes)
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