Former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is making a final attempt to avoid jail time by appealing to the Supreme Court. Navarro, who faces a four-month prison sentence for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 select committee, is seeking to remain free while he appeals his convictions.
Navarro’s Conviction and Appeal
Navarro was convicted by a Washington jury of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to provide documents or testimony to the Jan. 6 panel. The committee was investigating efforts by then-President Donald Trump and his allies to challenge the 2020 election results, which culminated in the Capitol riot.
Despite Navarro’s requests to delay his prison term while his appeal is pending, both U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta and a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his plea. They found no evidence to support Navarro’s claim that Trump had asserted executive privilege over the subpoenaed testimony.
Emergency Appeal to Chief Justice Roberts
Navarro’s attorneys filed an emergency application with Chief Justice John Roberts, urging him to allow Navarro to remain free while his appeal is considered. The filing argues that Navarro’s conviction undermines the constitutional principle of separation of powers and asserts that he believed he was protected by executive privilege.
Navarro’s Argument and Response
Navarro maintains that he was acting under Trump’s directive when he defied the Jan. 6 committee’s subpoena. However, the courts ruled that Navarro failed to demonstrate Trump’s actual assertion of executive privilege and that there were areas of testimony he could provide without violating any privilege.
The motion seeks Navarro’s “release pending appeal” as he faces reporting to federal prison in Miami next Tuesday.
Awaited Response
The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, responsible for prosecuting Navarro, and the solicitor general, who represents the Justice Department at the Supreme Court, have yet to comment on Navarro’s appeal.
Navarro’s fate now rests in the hands of the Supreme Court as he makes a final bid to avoid incarceration while his legal battle continues.
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