Peter Navarro expressed his belief that the Supreme Court would overturn his conviction, but lamented the “tragedy” of serving prison time before exoneration.
In addition to his trade advisory role, Navarro was involved in efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and maintain Trump’s presidency. The events of January 6, 2021, saw individuals storming Capitol Hill to disrupt the certification of Trump’s electoral defeat.
Initially subpoenaed by the House select committee in February 2022, Navarro refused to hand over requested emails and documents, citing executive privilege at Trump’s instruction. However, the court ruled against this claim, asserting that executive privilege did not shield Navarro from the subpoena.
Ultimately, Navarro was sentenced and fined $9,500 in late January, three years after the Capitol riot. Despite seeking freedom during his appeal, the Supreme Court Chief Justice denied delaying his sentence. Navarro’s attorneys argued that he posed no flight risk or public threat.
Navarro’s 2021 memoir, “In Trump Time,” detailed his role in devising a strategy to contest Biden’s electoral victory. The plan involved delaying certification, an effort dismissed as baseless by state and local officials, as noted by the House committee.
Former Trump campaign strategist Steve Bannon faced similar contempt charges for defying the committee’s summons. He received a four-month jail sentence but remains out on bail pending appeal.