Donald Trump investigation: Jan. 6 committee refers aides Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro for contempt

The congressional committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol made another vote to hold several aides of former President Donald Trump in contempt. This week, the committee unanimously voted to hold Trump aides Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress.

The January 6 congressional committee unanimously voted Monday to hold Scavino and Navarro in contempt for not complying with the subpoenas. The committee’s chair Bennie Thompson acknowledged that while Scavino and Navarro, who served in the Trump White House, are not as known but are key figures in the committee’s investigation.

Scavino served as deputy chief of staff and a member of the Trump White House communications team. Navarro served as Trump’s former adviser on trade.

“In short: These two men played key roles in the ex-President’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election,” said Thompson. “The Select Committee subpoenaed them for records and testimony to learn about their roles and what they knew.”

Thompson said that Scavino “strung us along for months before making it clear that he believes he’s above the law.” Thompson also said that Navarro shared important details on what he knew about the plans to overturn the 2020 elections on television, podcasts, and in his own book but refused to share information with the committee. Navarro has insisted that his information is protected by executive privilege.

The committee’s vice-chair, Liz Cheney, stressed that the panel has already refuted former President Donald Trump’s claims of executive privilege over documents he has sought to block from the committee. Cheney noted that the same ruling applies to Scavino and Navarro.

As the committee voted to hold Scavino and Navarro in contempt, a federal judge has found that the former president “more likely than not” committed federal crimes in an attempt to remain in power.

Federal judge David O. Carter issued a 44-page ruling ordering coup memo author John Eastman to turn over emails he sought to block from the committee. Carter found that both Eastman and Trump likely committed obstruction of justice.

“Dr. Eastman and President Trump launched a campaign to overturn a democratic election, an action unprecedented in American history,” the judge wrote. “Their campaign was not confined to the ivory tower – it was a coup in search of a legal theory. The plan spurred violent attacks on the seat of our nation’s government, led to the deaths of several law enforcement officers, and deepened public distrust in our political process.”