Judge Denies Peter Navarro’s Request for New Contempt Trial

Peter Navarro, former trade adviser to President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters as he departs U.S. District Court after he was indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for his failure to comply with a subpoena from the House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, on June 3, 2022. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

D.C. District Judge Amit Mehta has rejected former White House adviser Peter Navarro’s request for a new trial, ruling that Mr. Navarro waited too long to bring the motion and failed to show prejudicial influence on jurors.

Mr. Navarro is facing potential jail time after a jury found him guilty of two charges of contempt of Congress. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25. Mr. Navarro had argued in an Oct. 6 motion that the jury was prejudiced by protesters they were near while taking a break outside of the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse in Washington.