A former White House adviser to ex-President Donald Trump reported to Federal Correctional Institution, Miami earlier today after being found guilty of contempt of Congress. This stunning development makes Peter Navarro the first presidential aide in U.S. history to serve time in prison for this offense.
As CNN reports:
Navarro was sentenced to four months in prison for his refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.
Before reporting to jail, Navarro spoke for 30 minutes at a gas station and called the case against him an “unprecedented assault on the constitutional separation of powers.”
Navarro, 74, had attempted to stave off his sentence pending appeal. Last night, the U.S. Supreme Court quashed those dreams by denying to hear his case. (RELATED: Congressman Subpoenaed In Case Involving Sex Trafficking Victim)
During this morning's press conference, Navarro claimed that the tactics used against him would be employed against Trump. “I am pissed – that's what I am feeling right now.”
He ended by saying: “God bless you all, see you on the other side.”
CNN continues:
His conviction was a rare example of a member of Trump's inner circle being held accountable by the criminal justice system for their resistance to scrutiny. Navarro's stint in prison comes as Trump himself has yet to face criminal consequences for the various crimes he's been accused of committing.
Legal experts believe Navarro's historic sentence could be used to secure cooperation in the investigations into the former president and his administration.
Navarro was convicted last year of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for failing to produce documents related to the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol riot and another for skipping his deposition. (RELATED: Trump's Attorneys Drop Bombshell News)
The Justice Department repudiates Navarro's allegations that his sentence was influenced by the political climate.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied Navarro's appeal to stay out of prison last month, citing his misleading claims.
“Nancy Pelosi is not responsible for this prosecution; Joe Biden isn't responsible for the prosecution. It's those kinds of statements from someone who knows better… that contributes to why our politics are so divisive,” Mehta told the former director of the Trump administration's Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
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