Peter Navarro says Jan. 6 contempt case likely headed to Supreme Court

Tatiana Carter Thu, July 23, 2026 at 9:41 AM UTC

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(NewsNation) — A federal appeals court this week declined to overturn Peter Navarro’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee, and the former Trump trade adviser says he still expects the fight to land at the Supreme Court.

Navarro was convicted of contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over documents and testify before the committee while serving as a senior White House adviser. He served four months in prison.

Speaking Wednesday on NewsNation’s “On Balance,” Navarro said the ruling did not catch him off guard, referencing the makeup of the court that heard his case.

“Did not surprise us at all. The court was just about a mile from here. It’s as woke and left and screw Trump people as it can possibly be,” Navarro said.

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“What’s going to happen now, we planned on that. We’re going to move forward with an appeal likely to the appeals court itself. But I said from the day I got arrested that this case would go to the Supreme Court.”

Navarro said the case centers on executive privilege and argued a win would shield future presidential advisers from similar prosecution.

“As a senior presidential advisor, they put me in prison for simply defending the constitutional separation of powers. That’s all I’m guilty of,” he said. “And if I win the appeal, every future presidential advisor, regardless of party, will be able to respect the candor and confidential of presidential communications without risking imprisonment.”

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