Ex-Trump aide begins prison sentence, breaks White House accountability barrier

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) – Former White House aide Peter Navarro entered a federal prison in Miami on Tuesday, marking a historic moment as the first ex-White House official imprisoned for contempt of Congress.

His conviction stemmed from his refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the US Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.

Navarro addressed journalists in a shopping center parking lot before heading to a federal prison in Miami. The Federal Correctional Institution in Miami is a low-security federal prison in Florida that houses male inmates.

CNN reported that Stanley Brand, Navarro’s defense lawyer and former House general counsel, emphasized the historical significance of this case for future administrations and their relationships with Congress.

His imprisonment stands out as a rare instance of accountability within former US President Donald Trump's inner circle, in contrast to Trump's lack of criminal consequences despite numerous accusations against him.

Navarro reiterated his legal arguments to a few reporters, discussed his upcoming book, criticized federal judges for political bias, and fervently supported his former boss's White House reelection bid.

He expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would eventually overturn his conviction, but lamented that by then, he would have already served his prison sentence, calling it a "tragedy."

In addition to providing trade advice, Navarro collaborated on efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election and maintain Trump's presidency. The people who stormed Capitol Hill wanted to stop the certification of Trump's electoral defeat.

Navarro received a subpoena from the US House of Representatives select committee in Feb. 2022, but he did not provide the requested emails or documents. When contacted by the committee, Navarro claimed that Trump had directed him to invoke executive privilege, a legal concept that shields certain White House communications from disclosure.