Former Trump Aide Navarro Indicted for Contempt of Congress over Refusal to Cooperate with January 6 Investigation

A federal grand jury has indicted Peter Navarro, a former Trump White House adviser, on criminal contempt of Congress charges over his refusal to cooperate in the House investigation of the January 6th attack.

The indictment comes after the House voted in April to refer Navarro to the Justice Department for failing to comply with a February subpoena from the House Select Committee on the January 6 Capitol riot.

Navarro was charged with one contempt count for his refusal to appear for a deposition, and another for his refusal to produce documents requested by the committee, despite the subpoena from the January 6 committee, the Justice Department said Friday.

The committee said in a letter to Navarro alongside the February subpoenas that it had reason to believe the former trade advisor had information relevant to the investigation, citing reports that he worked with former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon and others to create a plan to delay the certification of President Biden’s 2020 victory and “ultimately change the outcome of … the November 2020 presidential election.”

Navarro rejected the panel’s request, arguing that former President Trump “has invoked Executive Privilege; and it is not my privilege to waive.”

The Justice Department charged Bannon with contempt of Congress related to the committee’s investigation in November. He is awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, Navarro is set to appear in court on Friday in Washington, D.C., according to the Justice Department.