House recommends trial of two Trump aides for contempt of Congress

The request will be formally sent to the Department of Justice, which will decide whether or not to press charges against Peter Navarro, a former economic advisor to Donald Trump, and Dan Scavino, who was an advisor in charge of social networks.

The resolution passed from 220 to 203, largely along partisan lines. Unsurprisingly, only Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who serve on the House committee investigating the storming of the Capitol, voted for Democrats.

millimeter. Navarro and Scavino refused to cooperate with the investigation, citing executive privilege, an argument that resonates Donald Trump protested it in courtwho had hoped to dissuade his former collaborators from participating in the committee’s work.

In the event of any trial, they risk a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

And so far only one aide to Donald Trump, Steve Bannon They were charged by the Ministry of Justicelast November, after a Similar House vote.

A former adviser to Donald Trump, who also defied a subpoena and an order to release the documents, has done so Not guilty.

However, the department has not yet made a decision on A quote from the House of Representatives targeting the former president’s chief of staffMark Meadows, a situation to the chagrin of both the Commission of Inquiry and the Democratic camp.

During discussions leading up to the vote on the resolution targeting Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro, the chair of the special committee, Democrat Benny Thompson, argued that the two men should To be held accountable for disrespecting the law.

This kind of cynical behavior, as we investigate violent rebellion, is simply despicable. This cannot last. Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro must be held accountable for their abuse of public trusthe argued.

For their part, the Republicans argued that the Democrats were playing a political game, accusing them, for example, ofAttacking American democracy They are trying to imprison their political opponents.

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The inquiry, however, seeks to shed light onInvasion of the Capitolon January 6, 2021, by hundreds of Donald Trump supporters who were trying to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory in November.

Mr. Scavino is suspected, among other things, of having participated with Donald Trump in a discussion, on January 5, about how to persuade members of Congress to refuse to endorse Joe Biden’s victory.

According to the Special Committee, Mr. Navarro, for his part, participated in the Maneuvers aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 elections and even mentioning the former president’s support for these projects..

The committee has heard more than 800 witnesses since it started its work last year. Including, on Tuesday, Ivanka TrumpThe daughter and former advisor to the former Republican President, and last week Jared KushnerBrother-in-law and former advisor to the former president.

Both appeared before the committee without being summoned.

To date, almost all successive witnesses have appeared in front of the camera. According to ABC News, the House Select Committee, whose final report is expected this fall, hopes to move to the public portion of the committee’s work in May.