WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) – Former Republican President Donald Trump’s adviser Peter Navarro pleaded not responsible on Friday to 2 misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress, after he refused to offer testimony or paperwork to the U.S. Home of Representatives Committee investigating the January 2021 assault on the Capitol.
Navarro, who appeared within the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Columbia for his arraignment on Friday, wrote a e-book after he left the White Home during which he talked a few plan to delay Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory often known as “Inexperienced Bay Sweep,” in line with the indictment.
He described the plan because the “final, finest probability to grab a stolen election from the Democrats’ jaws of deceit,” the indictment says.
His e-book will formally be launched in September, one in all his attorneys mentioned on Friday.
U.S. District Choose Amit Mehta, who can also be presiding over the upcoming high-profile trial this fall of members of the far-right Oath Keepers group dealing with seditious conspiracy prices, mentioned on Friday that his schedule is a “mess” and the earliest date he may set for Navarro’s trial is Nov. 17.
The U.S. Home Choose Committee, which held its third public listening to on Thursday afternoon to disclose a number of the findings from its investigation, subpoenaed Navarro in February in search of each paperwork and testimony.
Nevertheless, he failed to look for his deposition or talk in any approach with the panel after receiving the subpoena, the indictment in opposition to him alleges.
He later advised the committee he was unable to adjust to its calls for, saying Trump had invoked govt privilege, a authorized doctrine that shields sure White Home communications from disclosure, and that this privilege “shouldn’t be mine to waive.”
Peter Navarro, former commerce adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives for his arraignment on contempt of Congress prices for refusing to cooperate with the Home of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, at U.S. District Courtroom in Washington, U.S. June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Navarro, a longtime China hawk who suggested Trump on commerce points and in addition served on the COVID-19 process drive, had been representing himself since he was criminally charged.
However after Friday’s listening to, he advised reporters outdoors the courthouse that “being put in leg irons and having folks wanting to place me in jail” had modified his view about needing authorized illustration.
John Rowley, one in all his new attorneys, advised reporters they intend to “aggressively defend him” within the case.
Previous to being indicted, Navarro filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to the committee, arguing that the case in opposition to him stemmed from collusion between the Justice Division, Congress and the Biden White Home.
Rowley mentioned for now that they had moved to dismiss the civil case, however they may refile it at a future date.
Since his arrest, which occurred whereas he was boarding a airplane at a close-by airport, Navarro has accused the Justice Division of mistreatment, saying he was positioned in leg irons, denied entry to meals or water, and was forbidden from calling an lawyer.
Prosecutors have denied he was mistreated in any approach.
Rowley advised reporters they intend to additional probe the circumstances surrounding their consumer’s arrest, and why he was handled like a harmful legal over mere “course of crimes.”
“We have by no means seen something as outrageous as what occurred to Mr. Navarro,” he mentioned.
Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Modifying by Chizu Nomiyama and Daniel Wallis
: .
