Just hours after being released from prison, convicted former Trump aide Peter Navarro gave a defiant speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, blaming President Joe Biden and "his department of injustice" for putting him in jail.
"If they can come for me, if they can come for Donald Trump, be careful, they will come for you," he said. "If we don't control our government, their government will control us."
Navarro was convicted in September 2023 of defying a congressional subpoena for documents related to the House investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, and for refusing to appear for a deposition. His effort to appeal the case and avoid prison time was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, and he reported to prison in March to begin serving his four-month sentence.
Watch: Peter Navarro addresses reporters before turning himself in
Prosecutors accused Navarro of acting "above the law" by refusing to comply with the House investigation. Meanwhile, an attorney for Navarro argued that he wasn't deliberately refusing to cooperate, but had asked lawmakers to ask Trump what materials may be protected under executive privilege, something investigators did not do.
Navarro echoed that argument Wednesday night at the RNC, claiming the "sham Jan. 6 committee" demanded that he "violate executive privilege."
"If Congress slaps a subpoena on a senior White House adviser like me, the adviser's duty is to politely tell them to go pound sand," he said. "That's exactly what I did."
Navarro is the second former Trump aide to be charged with contempt of Congress. Steve Bannon was convicted on the same charges and sentenced to four months in prison. He began serving his sentence earlier this month.
Navarro has continued to be a staunch supporter of Trump, backing his reelection efforts. The former senior trade adviser even wrote a book about how the now-Republican presidential nominee can return to power.
