(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Federal prosecutors with the Department of Justice were attempting to put a gag order on former Trump advisor Peter Navarro in order to keep him from creating a “carnival atmosphere” ahead of his show-trial, Daily Mail reported.
Navarro appeared in court after being arrested last week for refusing to answer a subpoena from House Democrats’ partisan Jan. 6 Committee.
Immediately afterward, Navarro condemned the manner of his arrest while addressing reporters outside the courthouse.
The following day, federal prosecutors reportedly contacted him, saying they wanted to send him the grand-jury evidence that led to his arrest so he could prepare a defense.
However, they claimed his conduct demanded that there be protections so the evidence is not used as material for a media campaign.
“The defendant’s extrajudicial statements … demonstrate a substantial risk that, without a protective order, the defendant will use non-public discovery for improper purposes instead of to prepare the defense he plans to present before this court,” wrote the prosecutors.
In response, Navarro accused them of exploitation, noting he does not have a legal team to help him sift through the evidence.
In a letter to the court, he requested a delay in the case so he could find proper counsel.
“Clearly, the prosecution’s strategy is to take advantage of an individual without adequate representation,” he wrote to Judge Amit Mehta. “At this point, I am very actively seeking a legal team but am facing a number of hurdles.”
Navarro also railed against the J6 Committee, which is acting as a function of the House of Representatives.
“The legislative branch is not supposed to be the judge, jury, and executioner,” Navarro said.
“That’s not their role,” he continued. “That’s the judiciary’s role—so that alone is sufficient to render what they have done illegal and therefore what the Department of Justice did illegal.”
Several other top conservatives, including House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, have publicly questioned the legitimacy of the committee, given the unprecedented circumstances that found far-left House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hand-vetting all of its members.
In another flagrant breach of political norms by Democrats, Navarro is the second Trump aide to face a criminal trial for ignoring the subpoena to provide testimony before the J6 Committee.
Former Trump campaign adviser Steve Bannon is scheduled to go on trial next month.
