Monday’s meeting will be a discussion point for the committee to decide whether or not to refer for possible prosecution Trump’s former trade advisor, Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino (the onetime chief of staff, communications).
This meeting is the latest attempt by the panel in holding witnesses accountable for not cooperating. The panel is currently investigating the events that led to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that was meant to stop Congress from certifying results of the election won by Democrat Joe Biden.
In February, the committee subpoenaed Navarro to give his testimony. They wanted to see if Navarro was a Trump ally who made false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 elections. Although Navarro tried to use executive privilege to avoid cooperating, the Biden administration denied claims from himand another Trump aide, Michael Flynn, who was a former national security advisor.
Thursday’s statement by Navarro stated that the vote of the committee was “an unprecedented partisan attack on executive privilege.” “The committee is well aware that President Trump invoked executive privilege, and it is not my privilege waive.”
Navarro stated that it was premature for the committee “to pursue criminal charges against an individual at the White House of the highest rank for whom executive privilege undeniably applies.”
Navarro stated that the dispute appeared “inevitably headed” towards the Supreme Court. The House committee should cease harassing and inciting until the Supreme Court has a decision.
Scavino’s lawyer, who was subpoenaed in September last year, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Representative Bennie Thompson (a Mississippi Democrat) stated that Scavino must cooperate with the investigation. He said that Scavino may have material relevant to Trump’s videotaping and tweeting messages on Jan. 6.
After Steve Bannon defied a congressional subpoena and against Mark Meadows , longtime Trump chief of staff, the committee voted to recommend contempt proceedings against him . Both contempt referrals were approved by the full House.
Bannon was indicted by a federal Grand Jury and is currently awaiting prosecution by Justice Department. Meadows has not been charged by the Justice Department.
