Court Rejects Peter Navarro's Attempt to Delay Prison Reporting

A federal appeals court has rejected ex-Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro's request to delay reporting to a federal prison next week to start serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals' unanimous ruling requires Navarro to report to a federal prison in Miami by March 19.

The court, in a concise order from circuit Judges Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard, and Robert Wilkins, noted that Navarro had not provided enough evidence to justify his release while his appeal is ongoing.

According to the judges, Navarro failed to demonstrate that his appeal raises significant legal or factual issues that could lead to a reversal of his conviction, a new trial, a non-prison sentence, or a shorter prison term.

Navarro believed that the federal judge's decision to deny him the opportunity to raise an executive privilege defense during his trial was incorrect. He hoped that the possibility of the appeals court overturning this decision would prevent him from going to prison while his case is being reviewed.

However, on Thursday, the three appellate judges dismissed all of Navarro's arguments. This indicates that the court may not rule in his favor when they evaluate his reasons for wanting his conviction overturned.

Navarro was sentenced to four months in prison earlier this year for not complying with a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The court stated that he has no absolute testimonial immunity and a claim of executive privilege would not have exempted him from producing unprivileged documents and testifying on unprivileged matters.

CNN has reached out to Navarro for comment.

Trump promotes Navarro’s book

Trump has been endorsing Navarro's book and supporting his efforts to avoid prison time.

On his Truth Social account, Trump praised Peter Navarro for his strong stance on protecting the economy from foreign threats. He commended Navarro for his dedication to preventing the U.S. from being taken advantage of and highlighted the importance of studying his book and respecting his views. Trump described Navarro as a patriotic individual who has faced unfair treatment but continues to persevere, expressing confidence in eventual victory.

CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional details.

Editor's P/S:

I am deeply concerned by the federal appeals court's decision to deny Peter Navarro's request to delay reporting to prison. Navarro, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House select committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The court's ruling sends a dangerous message that those who refuse to cooperate with congressional investigations can be held accountable. It also raises questions about the scope of executive privilege and the ability of the legislative branch to hold the executive branch accountable.

Navarro's case is particularly troubling because he was denied the opportunity to assert an executive privilege defense during his trial. This is a significant issue, as executive privilege is a fundamental principle that protects the confidentiality of communications between the President and his advisors. The court's decision to deny Navarro this defense raises concerns about the ability of the executive branch to protect its internal deliberations. It also sends a chilling message to potential witnesses who may be hesitant to cooperate with congressional investigations for fear of being prosecuted for contempt.