(Washington) Former economic adviser and close ally of Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, was indicted on Friday for “obstructing the investigative powers of Congress” in relation to the attack on the Capitol, on January 6, 2021, announced the ministry. American Justice.
Posted at 3:41 p.m.
Navarro, 72, was charged with refusing to testify and provide documents to the House Committee investigating the Capitol storming, when thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the seat of the US Congress to try to block the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
The former adviser was taken into custody and must appear before a judge on Friday afternoon, according to the federal court in Washington.
Peter Navarro has indeed “made no secret of his role in the maneuvers aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election and even mentioned the former president’s support for these projects”, according to the head of the parliamentary inquiry, Democrat Bennie Thompson.
According to the so-called “January 6” commission, Navarro also worked with former Donald Trump political adviser Steve Bannon to “delay congressional certification” and change the election outcome.
Mr. Bannon was also the first close friend of Donald Trump to be charged with “obstructing” this parliamentary inquiry in November.
The commission of inquiry, which has already heard from hundreds of witnesses, wants at all costs to complete its work before the mid-term legislative elections in November.
If the Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives on the ballot, the commission risks being dissolved by the Republicans. She plans to hold public hearings as early as next week.
Peter Navarro faces between 30 days and one year in prison, as well as a fine of up to $100,000 for each count.
On Tuesday, the former adviser filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging that its investigation was illegal and that it had no authority to subpoena him, but a federal judge on Thursday asked Mr. Navarro to file his complaint with again because of a procedural defect.
Despite the recommendations of House officials, the US Department of Justice has not yet charged Mark Meadows, Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, or Dan Scavino, another close adviser to the Republican billionaire, the two men having also refused to cooperate with the Congressional investigation.