Peter Navarro, a former White House trade adviser, has filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking a full court rehearing regarding his contempt of Congress conviction. Navarro's attorney, Abhishek Kambli, argues that the previous ruling by a three-judge panel relied on outdated precedent that limited Navarro's defense options during his trial. The case centers on the interpretation of the term "willfully" in the federal contempt statute, which Navarro's legal team contends should require proof of bad motive or knowledge of wrongdoing, rather than just an intentional failure to comply with a subpoena from the now-defunct January 6 committee.
The D.C. Circuit panel had unanimously affirmed Navarro's two felony convictions, stating that he could not claim executive privilege without direction from former President Donald Trump. Navarro was convicted in 2023 and served a four-month prison sentence in 2024. It remains uncertain whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) will take a position on Navarro's new petition, especially since the DOJ is now led by the Trump administration, which may align more closely with Navarro's stance.
Navarro's petition also argues that the trial judge improperly prevented him from presenting evidence that he acted in good faith based on his belief in executive privilege. Kambli emphasized that the decision has implications beyond Trump-era officials, as executive privilege disputes can arise under any administration when Congress and the White House are controlled by opposing parties. The Washington Examiner has reached out to the DOJ for comment.