Peter Navarro, a former White House official under the administration of Donald Trump, has commenced a four-month jail term for contempt of Congress related to his refusal to comply with a subpoena concerning the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
Navarro, who served as a trade adviser to former President Trump, began serving his sentence in federal prison in Miami. His conviction marks the first instance of imprisonment for contempt of Congress during Trump's tenure in office.
The 74-year-old Navarro was found guilty last year on two counts of contempt after defying a subpoena from the House of Representatives committee investigating the 2021 attack on the Capitol. Despite being summoned to testify and provide documents to the Democratic-led House panel probing the riot by Trump supporters and broader efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Navarro refused to cooperate.
Before heading to jail, Navarro addressed reporters in the parking lot of a shopping center, discussing his upcoming book, criticizing the perceived bias of federal judges, and expressing staunch support for Trump.
Navarro's role extended beyond trade advising, as he was involved in efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election to ensure Trump's continued presidency. His failure to comply with a subpoena issued in February 2022 led to his conviction, despite his claims of executive privilege granted by Trump.
Although Navarro's lawyers sought to delay his sentence pending an appeal, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts Jr., denied the request. Navarro's imprisonment follows a similar case involving former Trump campaign strategist Steve Bannon, who was also sentenced to four months for contempt of Congress but has been allowed to remain free while appealing his conviction.
