Peter Navarro.Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty
Former TrumpWhite Houseofficial Peter Navarro has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury this week as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into theJan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
According to Navarro’s filing — which argues that he has “absolute testimonial immunity as a senior White House official” and should therefore not be required to submit testimony nor documents — the subpoena seeks his communications with former PresidentDonald Trump"and/or his counsel or representative."
TheAssociated Pressnotes that Navarro’s subpoena marks the first known instance of DOJ prosecutors seeking testimony from someone who worked in the Trump White House as part of the investigation into the Capitol riot.
In April, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold Navarro and fellow former Trump official Dan Scavinoin contempt of Congress, after the two failed to comply with congressional subpoenas for records and testimony related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The 220-203 vote in favor of holding the two men in contempt resulted in the criminal referrals to the Justice Department.
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson has argued that Scavino and Navarro “played a key role in the ex-President’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.”
In aMarch meeting, Republican Liz Cheney said Navarro had “written a book boasting about his role in planning and coordinating the activity of January 6th, and yet, he does not have the courage to testify here.”
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In December, the House voted to hold Trump’s former Chief of StaffMark Meadowsin contempt of Congress, also for refusing to testify to investigators. The Justice Department hasnot yet taken action on that referral.
source: people.com
