Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro has asked the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to allow him to remain out of prison while he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction.
The filing comes two weeks after U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied Navarro’s request to remain free during his appeal.
“Dr. Navarro respectfully requests expedited briefing and disposition of this matter because he expects imminent direction to report to the Bureau of Prisons to serve his four (4) month sentence,” Navarro’s attorney wrote to the Court of Appeals on Friday. “Should the Court desire additional time to consider the issue, Dr. Navarro respectfully requests a brief administrative stay of his reporting date pending this Court’s disposition of this motion.”
Judge Mehta, in his ruling two week ago, wrote that “Defendant’s request for release pending appeal is denied. Unless this Order is stayed or vacated by the D.C. Circuit, Defendant shall report to the designated Bureau of Prisons (‘BOP’) facility on the date ordered by the BOP.”
Peter Navarro, a former advisor to former President Donald Trump, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center, Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Md.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Navarro last month was sentenced to four months in jail and ordered to pay a $9,500 fine for defying a congressional subpoena to cooperate with the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In testimony during Navarro’s trial, former Jan. 6 committee staff director David Buckley said the panel was seeking to question Navarro about efforts to delay Congress’ certification of the 2020 election, a plan Navarro dubbed the “Green Bay Sweep” in his book, “In Trump Time.”
Navarro unsuccessfully argued that former President Donald Trump had asserted executive privilege over his testimony and document production.
Peter Navarro, former advisor to President Donald Trump, has recently requested court permission to remain out of custody while he appeals his conviction for contempt of Congress. Navarro was found guilty of defying a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot.
Navarro’s legal team argues that he should be allowed to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal, citing his lack of criminal record and strong ties to the community. They also point out that Navarro has complied with all other aspects of the investigation and has not been a flight risk.
The request comes after Navarro was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for his refusal to cooperate with the committee’s investigation. The judge in the case, U.S. District Judge David Carter, expressed frustration with Navarro’s actions, stating that his defiance was a threat to the rule of law.
Navarro’s case is just one of many involving former Trump administration officials who have been held in contempt for failing to comply with congressional subpoenas. The issue has raised questions about the limits of executive privilege and the power of Congress to compel testimony from government officials.
The outcome of Navarro’s appeal could have far-reaching implications for future investigations and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. It remains to be seen whether the court will grant his request to remain out of custody while his case is being appealed.
In the meantime, Navarro’s legal team continues to fight for his freedom, arguing that he has a right to due process and should not be punished before all legal avenues have been exhausted. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and holding government officials accountable for their actions.
