Navarro Accuses DOJ Of ‘Selective Animus’ In Contempt Case

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Former Trump White House Advisor Peter Navarro speaks to the press as he leaves federal court after a status hearing on August 11, 2022 in Washington, DC. In June, a federal grand jury ind... WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Former Trump White House Advisor Peter Navarro speaks to the press as he leaves federal court after a status hearing on August 11, 2022 in Washington, DC. In June, a federal grand jury indicted Navarro for contempt of Congress after he refused to cooperate with the House January 6 Committees investigation. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Wednesday accused the Justice Department of demonstrating a “selective animus” towards him as he asked a federal judge to dismiss the criminal contempt of Congress case against him.

Nazvarro was held in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with the Jan. 6 Select Committee’s subpoena.

Navarro made the dismissal request in a motion filed late Wednesday evening. In the filing, Navarro characterized the charges as a political move by the DOJ, arguing that Justice Department policy says that presidential advisers are shielded from congressional testimony, even after the President leaves office.

“A prosecution for Contempt of Congress following a legitimate assertion of Executive Privilege precluding Dr. Navarro’s appearance before the Select Committee, the prosecution of Dr. Navarro for contempt of Congress necessarily violates the doctrine of Separation of Powers and is unconstitutional,” the filing said.

Navarro goes on to reiterate grievances that have been repeatedly raised by Trumpworld figures, arguing the makeup of the Jan. 6 Select Committee — with just two Republicans — is illegitimate. That, of course, ignores the fact that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) ensured that the committee wouldn’t be evenly split when he pulled his nominees from consideration.

Navarro then argues that the DOJ showed a “selective animus” towards him, saying the government handled his arrest “very differently from other cases.” The filing notes that a day after a federal grand jury in D.C. returned its indictment against him, FBI agents arrested Navarro as he boarded a flight to Tennessee at Reagan National Airport.

“The Government’s refusal to allow Dr. Navarro to self-report to court after being charged with two non-violent misdemeanors is indeed unusual and demonstrates a selective animus towards him by the Government officials responsible for the decisions made in this case,” the filing said. The DOJ argued against those allegations earlier this week.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments on Navarro’s motion next month.

Navarro was indicted on two counts of contempt by a federal grand jury in June, to which he pleaded not guilty. Navarro’s lawyers at the time attempted to delay his trial date to next year to give him time to promote his new book. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the Washington, D.C. District Court rejected the request.

Earlier this month, the DOJ filed a civil lawsuit against Navarro to force him to turn over White House records on his personal email account, which he allegedly failed to do at the end of Trump’s term.

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who was convicted last month on two counts of contempt of Congress after a jury trial in Washington, D.C., issued similar arguments of executive privilege as part of his fruitless efforts to get his case dismissed. Bannon, however, was not at the White House at the time of the Capitol insurrection, unlike Navarro.

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Notable Replies

  1. Keep digging that cesspit deeper Peter.

  2. Justice can seem to have selective animosity to all those who break the law. After all, the law is pointing directly at you.

  3. Unless he files it as a court motion, he’s got nothing I want to hear.

    He’s flailing.

    Along with the entire GOP.

  4. “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ― Voltaire

  5. Ron Vara thinks using big words like ‘selective’ and ‘animus’ (in the same sentence!) will convince the MAGAts of the righteousness of his case, because if he can’t convince a judge, at least he can still wail and gnash away in hopes of rallying the base to his defense.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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