Former Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro’s attempt to delay reporting to prison has been denied by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, paving the way for Navarro to begin serving his four-month sentence. Navarro, who was found guilty of contempt of Congress, had sought to remain free while appealing his conviction related to his refusal to comply with a congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Despite Navarro’s efforts, Roberts rejected his plea, citing an appeals court’s determination that Navarro had forfeited his arguments challenging the district court’s ruling on executive privilege.
Navarro, 74, is set to report to a Miami prison on Tuesday afternoon to begin serving his sentence, becoming the first high-profile Trump advisor to serve jail time for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Roberts, in his written opinion, emphasized that Navarro had not met the burden to establish his entitlement to relief under the Bail Reform Act, thus affirming the district court’s decision. Notably, Roberts’ publication of an “in-chambers” opinion marked the first time in a decade he had done so, underscoring the significance of the case.
The conviction against Navarro stems from his refusal to produce documents and appear for a deposition as part of the congressional investigation. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta had previously ruled that Navarro could not use executive privilege as a defense, leading to his conviction. Despite Navarro’s assertions of a sincere belief in the validity of executive privilege, Mehta maintained that his appeal did not raise substantial legal questions justifying his release pending appeal.
Navarro’s attorneys argued that his conviction set a concerning precedent, contending that he should have been shielded from prosecution by executive privilege. They outlined several issues they intend to raise on appeal, including the requirement of an affirmative invocation of executive privilege and the standards for a proper invocation by former President Trump. While Navarro may be the first Trump advisor to face imprisonment for contempt of Congress, others, such as Steve Bannon, have faced similar charges and are awaiting appeal outcomes.
