Prosecutors Begin Case Against Peter Navarro in Contempt Trial
The New York Times The Justice Department kicked off arguments against Mr. Navarro on Wednesday, telling a jury he had willfully ignored lawmakers investigating Jan. 6.
The criminal trial against Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to President Donald J. Trump, opened on Wednesday as prosecutors cast Mr. Navarro as deliberately stymying lawmakers in refusing to testify last year before the House committee investigating the Capitol attack.
In their opening statement, government lawyers repeatedly emphasized that the case against Mr. Navarro was relatively straightforward: Did Mr. Navarro show contempt for Congress when he disregarded the committees subpoena for documents and testimony?
This case is just about a guy who didnt show up for his testimony? Yes, this case is that simple, a prosecutor, John Crabb Jr., said in Federal District Court in Washington. But this case is also that important we are a nation of laws, and Mr. Navarro acted like he was above the law.
Lawyers for Mr. Navarro sought to paint him as a professional and well-educated policy adviser who simply got caught up in fraught legal negotiations with the Jan. 6 committee.
