Page 3 - atd

A3
U.S. NEWS Saturday 4 June 2022
Former Trump aide Navarro indicted for defying Jan. 6 panel

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, Navarro, who was a trade
ERIC TUCKER and FAR- adviser to Trump, said he
NOUSH AMIRI was served the subpoena
Associated Press by the FBI at his Washing-
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- ton, D.C., home last week.
mer Trump White House of- The subpoena was the first
ficial Peter Navarro was in- known instance of pros-
dicted Friday on contempt ecutors seeking testimony
charges after defying a from someone who worked
subpoena from the House in the Trump White House
panel investigating the as they investigate the at-
Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. tack. Prosecutors said the
Capitol. indictment was handed
Navarro is former President down Thursday night.
Donald Trump's second Navarro made the case in
aide to be charged with his lawsuit Tuesday that the
contempt of Congress for House select committee
refusing to cooperate with investigating the attack is
the Jan. 6, 2021, investi- unlawful and therefore a
gation. His arrest comes subpoena it issued to him in
months after the indictment February is unenforceable
of former White House ad- under law.
viser Steve Bannon. He filed the suit against
Navarro, 72, was charged Former Trump White House official Peter Navarro speaks to reporters Friday, June 3, 2022, outside members of the commit-
with one contempt count of federal court in Washington. tee, Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
for failing to appear for Associated Press D-Calif., and the U.S. at-
a deposition before the torney in Washington, Mat-
House committee and a During the hearing, he rick Garland have faced lawyers for Trump, accord- thew M. Graves, whose
second charge for failing said the House committee pressure to move more ing to the indictment. The office is now handling the
to produce documents the was a "sham committee" quickly to decide whether committee went ahead criminal case against him.
committee requested. and that prosecutors were to prosecute other Trump with its scheduled deposi- In an interview with The As-
During an initial court ap- "playing hardball" and aides who have similarly tion on March 2, but Navar- sociated Press this week,
pearance on Friday, Na- were "despicable." defied subpoenas from the ro did not attend. Navarro said the goal of
varro alleged that the Jus- If convicted, each charge House panel. The indictment came days his lawsuit is much broader
tice Department had com- carries a minimum sen- The indictment alleges that after Navarro revealed in than the subpoenas them-
mitted "prosecutorial mis- tence of a month in jail and Navarro, when summoned a court filing that he also selves, part of an effort to
conduct" and said that he a maximum of a year be- to appear before the com- had been subpoenaed have "the Supreme Court
was told he could not con- hind bars. mittee for a deposition, re- to appear before a grand address a number of is-
tact anyone after was ap- The indictment under- fused to do so and instead jury this week as part of sues that have come with
proached by an FBI agent scores that the Justice De- told the panel that be- the Justice Department's the weaponization of Con-
at the airport on Friday and partment is continuing to cause Trump had invoked sprawling probe into the gress' investigatory powers"
put in handcuffs. He said he pursue criminal charges executive privilege, "my deadly insurrection at the since Trump entered office.
was arrested while trying to against Trump associates hands are tied." U.S. Capitol. Members of the select
board a flight to Nashville, who have attempted to im- After committee staff told "This was a preemtive strike committee sought testimo-
Tennessee, for a television pede or stonewall the work him they believed there by the prosecution against ny from Navarro about his
appearance. of congressional investiga- were topics he could dis- that lawsuit," Navarro told public efforts to help Trump
"Who are these people? tors examining the most cuss without raising any ex- Magistrate Judge Zia Fa- overturn the 2020 presi-
This is not America," Na- significant attack on U.S. ecutive privilege concerns, ruqui during his court ap- dential election, including
varro said. "I was a distin- democracy in decades. Navarro again refused, pearance. "It simply flies in a call trying to persuade
guished public servant for The Justice Department directing the committee the face of good faith and state legislators to join their
four years!" and Attorney General Mer- to negotiate directly with due process." efforts.q

Special Olympics drops vaccine rule after $27M fine threat

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — them to be able to com- requiring proof of coronavi-
The Special Olympics has pete. We do not think it's rus vaccination for attend-
dropped a coronavirus fair or just to be marginal- ees or participants.
vaccine mandate for its izing some of these athletes Florida law bars businesses
games in Orlando after based on a decision that from requiring documen-
Florida moved to fine the has no bearing on their tation of a COVID-19 vac-
organization $27.5 million ability to compete with cination. DeSantis has
for violating a state law honor or integrity," DeSantis strongly opposed vaccine
against such rules. said at a news conference mandates and other virus
Republican Gov. Ron De- in Orlando. policies endorsed by the
Santis on Friday announced The Florida health depart- federal government.
the organization had re- ment notified the Special In a statement on its web-
moved the requirement for Olympics of the fine in a site, the Special Olympics
its competition in the state, letter Thursday that said said people who were reg-
which is scheduled to run the organization would be istered but unable to partic- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Miami's Freedom Tower, on
June 5 to June 12. fined $27.5 million for 5,500 ipate because of the man- May 9, 2022. Associated Press
"In Florida, we want all of violations of state law for date can now attend.q