Peter Navarro asks full DC Circuit to reopen contempt case
EXCLUSIVE — White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday asked the full federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., to reconsider its decision upholding his contempt of Congress conviction, arguing a three-judge panel that ruled against him relied on outdated precedent that wrongly narrowed his ability to defend himself at trial.
TL;DR
- Peter Navarro is seeking a rehearing en banc of his contempt of Congress conviction by the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- His petition challenges the precedent used by a three-judge panel, arguing it incorrectly narrowed his defense.
- Navarro's legal team argues the "willfully" element in the contempt statute requires proof of bad motive, not just intentional non-compliance.
- The petition also claims the trial judge wrongly prevented Navarro from presenting evidence of good-faith belief in executive privilege.
- The Department of Justice's stance on the new petition is unclear, potentially influenced by the shift back to a Trump-appointed administration.