Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) on Friday said former Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro’s contempt of Congress conviction is a “just verdict.”
“It’s a just verdict. And it’s important,” Lofgren told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, claiming the conviction brought her “relief” when asked how she felt.
“Mr. Navarro was the trade adviser, but his role in the Trump administration was far wider than that,” she added.
Navarro was found guilty of contempt of Congress on Thursday, following a jury deliberation that lasted nearly five hours. He faces two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a subpoena issued by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The first charge pertained to his failure to produce requested documents and the second was for failing to appear for a deposition in the investigation.
Lofgren, who served on the Jan. 6 subcommittee, said she was glad Navarro and another former Trump adviser, Steve Bannon, were being held accountable for refusing to answer questions about the Jan. 6 riot. Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress in July 2022.
“We had a lot of questions for Navarro,” she said. “And for Bannon. They illegally refused to answer. And I’m glad that they’re being held to account it’s about upholding the rule of law.”
Asked what kind of message the charges could send to others who try to ignore subpoenas, Lofgren said, “It’s not a suggestion. It’s a requirement.”
She also suggested Bannon and Navarro could both serve time behind bars.
“I would guess they will spend some significant time in custody,” Lofgren said. “And frankly, I think they should not only because of their illegal activity, but also as a message to others who might think that it’s okay to violate the law.”
Following Navarro’s conviction, his attorney Stanley Woodward called for a mistrial, claiming the jurors during their break were exposed to protesters with signs related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Prosecutors claimed they did not see any protesters outside.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said he would not rule on the mistrial until the defense provided video or photo evidence.