The Supreme Court has once again turned down Peter Navarro’s request to be released from prison as he appeals his conviction for contempt of Congress. The former Trump White House advisor, who previously served as the director of the White House National Trade Council, had reported to federal prison following Chief Justice John G. Roberts’ denial of his initial attempt to avoid incarceration. (Source: CNN)
Navarro, who is 74 years old, has been incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institute in Miami, where he is among 80 other older inmates. His imprisonment is a result of his refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena to testify regarding the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol, which was carried out by supporters of former President Trump. Consequently, Navarro was convicted of two charges of criminal contempt of Congress and received a four-month prison sentence along with a fine of $9,500, as determined by a federal judge in Washington, D.C.
The House January 6 Committee had requested documents and testimony from Navarro, who played a role in Trump’s efforts to postpone the official certification of Joe Biden’s win. Navarro claimed executive privilege, but Roberts determined that even if valid, the federal appeals courts had already decided that it did not offer sufficient protection against a congressional subpoena.
Navarro went to prison in mid-March. In a recent development, he made another urgent request to Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, who then referred the case to the full court. Navarro’s lawyers argued that it was necessary to suspend his prison term as he was not a flight risk and had raised significant legal questions. Unfortunately, this second attempt was also unsuccessful, as two lower courts had previously rejected similar appeals.
Navarro becomes the inaugural ex-White House official to serve a prison sentence for contempt, but he might not be alone for long. Steve Bannon, the conservative activist who played a crucial role in Trump’s rise to power, has also been convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress and handed a four-month sentence. However, Bannon has managed to evade imprisonment temporarily as his sentence has been suspended pending his appeal.
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