Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is convicted of contempt of Congress in Jan. 6 investigation

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Thu Sep 7, 2023, 07:58 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the plot to overturn the 2020 election.

The jury deliberated for about four hours at a federal courthouse in Washington before it found Navarro guilty of two counts of contempt for refusing to testify before the House Jan. 6 committee and turn over subpoenaed documents.

Each count carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in prison, in addition to a maximum fine of $100,000.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/former-trump-aide-peter-navarros-trial-set-closing-arguments-contempt-rcna103790/

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Article updated.

Previous article -

WASHINGTON -- Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the plot to overturn the 2020 election.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before finding Navarro, 74, guilty of two counts of contempt for refusing to testify before the House Jan. 6 committee and turn over subpoenaed documents.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 12.

The two counts each carry a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in prison, in addition to a maximum fine of $100,000. "There's no mistake, no accident," prosecutor John Crabb told jurors in the Washington, D.C. federal courtroom during closing arguments Thursday morning. "That man thinks he's above the law," Crabb said. "In this country, nobody is above the law."

Original article/headline -

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena in a Jan 6. investigation

Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of criminal contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the plot to overturn the 2020 election.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before finding Navarro guilty of two counts of contempt for refusing to testify before the House Jan. 6 committee and turn over subpoenaed documents.

The two counts each carry a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in prison, in addition to a maximum fine of $100,000.

"There's no mistake, no accident," prosecutor John Crabb told jurors in the Washington, D.C. federal courtroom during closing arguments.

[badhair77]

1. Good.

He’ll be back on tv tonight whining again that prison time is hurting his senior years and wrecking his retirement. Thoughts and prayers.

[gopiscrap]

65. I wouldn't even give the fucker

thots and prayers maybe rocks and pears, but even that is a stretch

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Sure hope this wealthy clown gets clipped for the max fine

[onenote]

66. Based on the sentence and fine imposed on Bannon, its unlikely.

Bannon got 4 months and a $6500 fine. Max fine is $100,000.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. K & R!

[Oopsie Daisy]

4. I'm sure he'll appeal. But I hope he gets to appeal from a prison cell.

[onenote]

29. Highly unlikely that he'll serve time while appealing.

In all likelihood, he will not serve any time unless and until his inevitable appeal to the DC Circuit and, after that, SCOTUS, are resolved again him.

It is pretty common for judges to grant bail pending appeal to defendants found guilty of non-violent crimes with sentences that are, in all likelihood, shorter than the time it would take for the appeals to be decided.

[Oopsie Daisy]

31. Pity.

[cab67]

36. that being said...

...it's also not uncommon for judges to deny bail for those deemed to be flight risks. Navarro has shown no indication that he'd comply with any judge's orders.

I suspect you're right, and that he'll be allowed to stay out of jail, but there are reasonable criteria to take him into custody right after sentencing.

[onenote]

38. Which of this judge's orders did he disobey?

He showed up for his trial. He's been free without bail since being indicted over a year ago. The judge isn't going to decide he's a flight risk.

[cab67]

54. I was thinking about his defiance of the congressional subpoena

I've also developed what I like to think is a healthy mistrust of anyone associated with the previous administration. I assume they won't do the right thing until shown otherwise.

Like I said, I suspect he'll be free during the appeals process. But a rational person can list reasons why this shouldn't be.

[onenote]

62. Steve Bannon also defied a congressional subpoena and was convicted of contempt

He is free on bail pending his appeal. He was convicted in July 2022. He was sentenced to four months and a $6500 fine in October 2022 and he filed his appeal with the DC Circuit, in November 2022. It is still pending.

There is little reason to think that Navarro will be treated much differently.

[SouthernDem4ever]

64. no but we can always hope

[NJCher]

55. nuthin' to appeal

the case is so lousy there's nothing to appeal. That was expressed by numerous legal commenters tonight on the political shows.

Hope the whistle woman is celebrating tonight. She should be!

[onenote]

60. That won't stop him from appealing, as is his right under the law.

Did the legal commenters mention that?

[Joinfortmill]

6. Good

[Deuxcents]

7. When will he know his sentence and

When will he start serving it? For sure, a good day for the rule of law.

[onenote]

13. As stated in the article linked in the OP: January 12, 2024

"U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 12."

In all likelihood, he will not serve any time unless and until his inevitable appeal to the DC Circuit and, after that, SCOTUS, are resolved again him.

It is pretty common for judges to grant bail pending appeal to defendants found guilty of non-violent crimes with sentences that are, in all likelihood, shorter than the time it would take for the appeals to be decided.

[Deuxcents]

21. Ty.

[leftieNanner]

8. Good news

I do hope he gets at least some prison time.

Consequences, people.

[calimary]

41. Yep. Absolutely. Consequences, people.

[Traildogbob]

9. Who's

Gonna be in command of the MAGA’s during the civil war?
What signage will our hero lady be holding up behind his whine tasting tonight in front of camera’s when ranting about political prosecution and weaponized Biden henchmen? Gym should be joining him!

[NJCher]

56. she was my favorite part of this entire saga

She never left him alone. She drove him crazy, as you could see from his facial expressions and verbal remarks. She was having such a great time, swinging that sign around.

I really admire people like that. There's another one, whom we all know about here. He's the gray haired guy who shows up all the time with the big signs about lies. He is remarkably consistent. Always there: spends a lot of time doing this.

This is the kind of thing where one person can have an outsized influence. All one has to do is live in the area and be brazen enough to pull it off.

I'd do it in a heartbeat. In fact, I did do it to Scalia when he spoke at Princeton. I had a huge sign that said "Tony the Fixer Scalia." I stood around under the streetlights with the other protesters, holding up my big sign and Scalia himself was looking out the window at me. I waved it around to be sure he saw it.

Then when everyone exited the speeches, I stood there with my sign so everyone in attendance could see it. Fun stuff.

I took the train to Princeton from Northern NJ and my sign was so big I had trouble getting it on the train. People loved it; they all came over and asked me questions about how I made it and where I was going to use it.

A lot of people around here hate republicans, especially in the more highly educated towns.

[Traildogbob]

63. You Rock!!!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

10. And how many appeals will we have to wait for?

[NJCher]

57. one at most

see my post 55 above. Nuthin' to appeal.

[onenote]

61. Two.

One to the DC Circuit. And after that, the Supreme Court. The one to the DC Circuit will take a while to decide -- possibly close to a year. The Supreme Court will, one would hope, deny certiorari, thereby ending the case, but the petition for cert won't be due for three months after the DC Circuit decides the case and then there will be an opposition by the government. Navarro could then file a reply, although the Court can decide whether to grant or deny the petition without waiting for a reply to be filed.

Steve Bannon was convicted in July 2022 of contempt for defying a Jan. 6 Committee subpoena. He was sentenced in October 2022, and filed his appeal in November 2022. It is still pending.

[Martin68]

11. It's been a long time coming. I'm glad we finally got there.

[BadGimp]

12. Another FAFO Trump Alum

eom

[Botany]

43. Yup! FAFO

At least 2 months in the grey bar Hilton.

[TheRickles]

14. Didn't Jim Jordan also fail to comply with a Congressional subpoena?

There have been no consequences for him so far. Why not?

[MyOwnPeace]

44. Was gonna' ask the same.....

and weren't there others that also refused to testify - like Mark Meadows?

I do know that there were others that were referred to the DOJ - but they were not charged - yet.
Why not, AG Garland? We've already seen one convicted for the same crime that others were referred to you?????

[onenote]

46. The Jan. 6 Committee didn't refer Jordan's refusal to the DOJ.

They referred it to the House Ethics Committee.

The Committee referred five individuals to DOJ for contempt. Bannon and Navarro were prosecuted.
DOJ decided against prosecuting Meadows, Scavino, and Clark.

It is thought that they decided against prosecuting those cases because the argument for executive privilege was stronger for those individuals, although no reason has expressly been given.

[MyOwnPeace]

47. Asked - and answered! Thanks!

[TheRickles]

50. Thanks again. You answered this same question on another thread too.

And the context about executive privilege makes sense as a possible rationale.

[msongs]

15. why isnt congress trying the case? after all its contempt of...congress nt

[onenote]

19. Because Congress isn't part of the judicial branch of the government.

[angrychair]

16. Yet he still walks free

While anyone that was poor or disenfranchised would be sitting in jail right now.

[onenote]

22. You wanted him jailed before he was convicted?

And no, even poor and disenfranchised individuals who are charged with non-violent crimes and are not considered a flight risk are granted bail pending their trial.

[angrychair]

48. He is convicted

He walked right out the door and begged for money.

That absolutely isn't how it works for the poor and disenfranchised.

I'd say ask Kalief Browder but he isn't available for comment.

[onenote]

49. Pretty sure it works that way in the federal system.

If someone has been released on bail -- and most are -- they don't go to prison immediately on being convicted of a non-violent crime. They remain free until sentencing and, typically, until their appeals are exhausted if the sentence they would serve is shorter than the time it would take for their appeals to be heard and resolved.

But if you have statistics that show otherwise, I'd be interested in seeing them.

[Dios Mio]

25. Oh my. The well connected surely do suffer.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. Navarro becomes the latest member of Team Trump to be convicted

This makes me smile

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/navarro-becomes-latest-member-team-trump-convicted-rcna103959

There’s an astonishing number of people in Donald Trump’s orbit who’ve been convicted of crimes in recent years, to the point that The Washington Post described it as the “remarkable universe of criminality“ surrounding the former president. Today, as my MSNBC colleague Jordan Rubin reported, the list got a little longer.

Peter Navarro was found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. The former Trump White House adviser was charged after refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. He refused to appear for a deposition and provide documents.

Jordan’s report added that each count of contempt of Congress “carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, and a fine of up to $100,000.”

[Lettuce Be]

18. Why so long before sentencing?

Seems like that's a long time, just curious if anyone knows

[onenote]

20. As DOJ explains, there is an process to be followed in sentencing:

The judge receives guidance and assistance from several sources in order to sentence a defendant. Congress has established minimum and maximum punishments for many crimes which the judge uses to craft a sentence. The United States Sentencing Commissions has produced a set of sentencing guidelines that recommend certain punishments for certain crimes while considering various factors. Further, the judge will look at a presentence report and consider statements from the victims as well as the defendant and lawyers.

The judge may consider a variety of aggravating or mitigating factors. These include whether the defendant has committed the same crime before, whether the defendant has expressed regret for the crime, and the nature of the crime itself.

https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/sentencing#:~:text=A%20few%20months%20after%20the,uses%20to%20craft%20a%20sentence.

[MyOwnPeace]

45. Well, ole' Petey has certainly helped the judge on that one......

Mr. 'Hold a press conference every time I leave a courtroom' has given the judge ample evidence that he shows NO remorse for his crimes bec..... oh, wait, he's holding another one now......

Hey, who's that girl holding another sign behind him.....

[pwb]

23. This Navarro guy rubbed me the wrong way from the get go.

He talked at people like they were lucky to hear what he said. Fuck him.

[NJCher]

58. got on my nerves

He's got a freaking attitude--like he shouldn't be bothered with this.

One of the commenters on the political shows tonight remarked that he has a PH.D. in economics from Harvard. Common sense alone should tell you not to support a narcissist with a record like trump's. I mean, WTF?! What is wrong with these people? Didn't they get anything at all from their education?

Oh well, DeSantis is another one with an Ivy League degree who shows absolutely no common sense. His whole strategy from Day One was flawed and anyone could see it, yet he collected tons of money from the big donors. Where is their common sense?

[AllaN01Bear]

24. this.

[Blue Owl]

26. K&R

[ancianita]

27. There's no report on whether Judge Mehta decided on a date for his sentencing, supposedly because

of Woodward's motion for a mistrial.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after the verdict, Navarro seemed more upset about the protesters standing behind him. "Sad day for America, not because of the guilty verdicts, but because I can’t come out and have an honest, decent conversation with the people of America," he said, complaining about the "divide" in the country and "the woke Marxist left."

"This is nuts," he said.

Navarro’s lawyers made a motion for a mistrial after the verdict was read, telling the judge that the jury had gone outside for a break during deliberations and would have been exposed to protesters outside the courthouse with signs about Jan. 6.

The jury said they’d reached a verdict about 10 minutes after the break, according to Navarro lawyer Stanley Woodward.

Mehta told Woodward to file a motion based on his concerns and said he would consider the issue at a later time.

Woodward told NBC News on Wednesday that Navarro was prepared to appeal if the jury found him guilty.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/former-trump-aide-peter-navarros-trial-set-closing-arguments-contempt-rcna103790

[onenote]

28. The linked article specifically states sentencing will be on January 12.

[niyad]

30. Why the delay in sentencing? Over FOUR months from now??

[jgo]

34. I had the same reaction.

Are there any lawyers on here that could provide some input as to why sentencing takes so long?

[onenote]

40. As explained by the DOJ: There's is a process to be followed before sentence is announced.

It is not uncommon for it to be 90 days, in some of the January 6 cases, sentencing has taken place as long as four or or five months after conviction.

From the DOJ:
"The judge receives guidance and assistance from several sources in order to sentence a defendant. Congress has established minimum and maximum punishments for many crimes which the judge uses to craft a sentence. The United States Sentencing Commissions has produced a set of sentencing guidelines that recommend certain punishments for certain crimes while considering various factors. Further, the judge will look at a presentence report and consider statements from the victims as well as the defendant and lawyers.

The judge may consider a variety of aggravating or mitigating factors. These include whether the defendant has committed the same crime before, whether the defendant has expressed regret for the crime, and the nature of the crime itself."

https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/sentencing#:~:text=A%20few%20months%20after%20the,uses%20to%20craft%20a%20sentence.

[getagrip_already]

32. So f'in dumb....

All he needed to do was show up and plead the 5th. Or better yet, just tell the fuckin truth.

As long as he showed up, no charges, no lawyers, no crushing debt.

But that's what you get for listening to Woodward.

Mountains of debt. Possibly a year in prison. No remaining reputation.

Idiot.

[NJCher]

59. better yet

when you spot a sociopath like trump, run for the hills. Don't take a job working with him.

[4lbs]

33. Another day, another sycophant of the Dumpster gets convicted.

Hmm... in my set, all the white dominoes keep falling and knocking each other over.

As the World Turns.... These are the Days of Our Lives.

[slightlv]

42. Kudos for the soaps opening lines!

Especially since everything about *rump and all those around him comprise the worst soap opera ever!

[dchill]

35. Will he be talking to the press soon?

[rurallib]

37. If he does I hope that woman is behind him razzing the crap out of him

[moniss]

39. That was quick

thankfully.

[republianmushroom]

51. I like it

[OAITW r.2.0]

52. Oh well....sucks to be you, Pete!

Say hello to your J6 buddies when you finally get incarcerated.

[AwakeAtLast]

53. Oh goody! He gets a new suit!

[calimary]

67. So... I'm still trying to figure out exactly what he did for "the outfit".

He always struck me as little more than a high-level hanger-on.

[quakerboy]

68. And so what?

Will this cause the requested information to be brought to light?

Or does this just mean he gets away with hiding the information, albeit with a 30 day slap on the wrist?