Former economic adviser and close ally of Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, was indicted on Friday June 3 for "
obstructing the investigative powers of Congress
" in relation to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, the US Department announced. of Justice.
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Peter Navarro, 72, has been indicted for refusing to testify and provide documents to the House Committee investigating the Capitol storming, when thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the seat of the US Congress to attempt to block the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory.
The former adviser was taken into custody and must appear before a judge on Friday afternoon, according to the federal court in Washington.
“Delaying Congressional Certification”
Peter Navarro has indeed "
made no secret of his role in the maneuvers aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election and even mentioned the former president's support for these projects
", according to the head of the parliamentary inquiry, Democrat Bennie Thompson.
Navarro also worked with Donald Trump's former political adviser, Steve Bannon, to "
delay congressional certification
" and change the outcome of the election ,
according to the so-called
January 6 commission.
Steve Bannon was also the first close friend of Donald Trump to be charged with "
obstructing
" this parliamentary inquiry in November.
The commission of inquiry, which has already heard from hundreds of witnesses, wants at all costs to complete its work before the mid-term legislative elections in November.
If the Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives on the ballot, the commission risks being dissolved by the Republicans.
She plans to hold public hearings as early as next week.
Peter Navarro faces between 30 days and one year in prison, as well as a fine of up to $100,000 for each count.
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The former adviser filed a lawsuit against the commission on Tuesday, alleging its investigation was unlawful and lacked the authority to subpoena him, but a federal judge on Thursday asked Peter Navarro to refile his lawsuit. because of a procedural error.
Despite the recommendations of House officials, the US Department of Justice has not yet charged Mark Meadows, Donald Trump's former chief of staff, or Dan Scavino, another close adviser to the Republican billionaire, the two men having also refused to cooperate with the Congressional investigation.