The Justice Department has sought a six-month prison sentence and a fine of $200,000 for Peter Navarro, the former Trump White House advisor convicted of criminal contempt for ignoring a Congressional subpoena.
FILE PHOTO: Peter Navarro, an advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters as ... [+]
In a D.C. federal court filing, federal prosecutors argued that Navarro “deserves severe punishment” for engaging in a “bad-faith” strategy of defiance and contempt.
The prosecutors said Navarro “thumbed his nose” at Congressional authority and refused to comply with a subpoena from the House Committee investigating the January 6 riots “even before knowing what information” was being sought from him.
The filing alleges Navarro used “unfounded invocations of executive privilege and immunity” that would never apply to him as part of his strategy to defy Congress.
A filing made by Navarro’s attorneys requested the court “sentence him to not more than six months of probation” to run concurrently for each of his convictions and a total fine of $200.
The defense attorneys argued the former White House advisor did not disrespect the law or believe he was above it and his actions were the result of a belief that “he was duty-bound to assert executive privilege on former President Trump's behalf.”
“The Defendant chose allegiance to former President Donald Trump over the rule of law even after being apprised that executive privilege would not excuse his default,” the DOJ’s filing notes.
Navarro was found guilty of contempt of Congress by a D.C. federal court jury in September last year. The former Trump advisor was convicted on two counts, for failing to testify before Congress and for not providing documents. The close Trump aide had refused to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 Committee claiming he was protected by executive privilege. Navarro disclosed he and fellow Trump ally Steve Bannon had outlined a plan called the “Green Bay Sweep” to help overturn the 2020 election results of several battleground states in favor of the former president. Bannon has been sentenced to four months in prison and hit with a $6,500 fine after being convicted of criminal contempt of Congress. Bannon’s sentence remains suspended as he appeals the verdict.