A federal judge has rejected former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro’s plea to avoid imprisonment as he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction.
Navarro received a four-month jail sentence and was also required to pay a $9,500 fine in January. This was a result of his refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena to assist the House Select Committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol.
In a recent filing, US District Judge Amit Mehta stated that Navarro is required to comply with the prison reporting date set by the Bureau of Prisons. Navarro’s attorneys wasted no time in filing an appeal after his sentencing. Navarro had requested to avoid incarceration while he pursues his appeal.
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“The defendant’s request for release pending appeal has been denied,” Mehta stated. “If this Order is not stayed or vacated by the DC Circuit, the Defendant must comply with the requirement to report to the designated Bureau of Prisons (‘BOP’) facility on the date specified by the BOP.”
Navarro was convicted in September for one count of contempt of Congress for his refusal to appear for a deposition in front of the Jan. 6 committee, and for a second count for refusing to produce documents.
Prosecutors Seek 6-Month Sentence and $100K Fine for Navarro, Following Bannon’s Conviction
The prosecutors requested a six-month prison sentence and a $100,000 fine for each count against Navarro, who served as the director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy under then-President Trump.
Navarro’s attorneys had requested a lenient sentence of no more than six months, along with a fine of $100 for each count. Navarro became the second Trump adviser to face conviction and sentencing for his refusal to cooperate with the Jan. 6 panel.
This followed the guilty verdict of Steve Bannon in July 2023 for defying a Jan. 6 committee subpoena. Bannon was later sentenced to four months in prison, pending an appeal.
The Jan. 6 committee’s 17-month investigation, culminating in the publication of its final report in December 2022, revealed a complex plot to undermine the legitimate outcome of the 2020 Presidential election.
The panel put forward 11 recommendations, including the need for Congress to affirm the certification process of electoral votes, strengthen measures to combat violent extremism and protect election workers, and enhance the effectiveness of the Capitol Police.