Peter Navarro (left), Dan Scavino.Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty
The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to hold two seniorTrumpWhite Houseofficials — Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino — in contempt of Congress, after the two failed to comply with congressional subpoenas for records and testimony related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The 220-to-203 vote in favor of holding the two men in contempt will result in criminal referrals to the Justice Department, theWashington Postreports.
The Justice Department will then decide whether to charge Navarro, 72, and Scavino, 46, with misdemeanors that may result in as much as one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000, the outlet also said.
Navarro served in the Trump administration as the Assistant to the President, Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, and the national Defense Production Act policy coordinator. Scavino previously served as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for communications and as director of social media.
The House vote comes days after thebipartisan congressional committeeinvestigating the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riots advanced the measure to hold the men in contempt, with Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson arguing that Scavino and Navarro “played a key role in the ex-President’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.”
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The Democratic-controlled House passed both contempt motions Wednesday. The matter will now be in the hands of the Justice Department, which will determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Navarro and Scavino.
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In December, the House voted to hold Trump’s former Chief of StaffMark Meadowsin contempt of Congress, also for refusing to testify to investigators. The Justice Department hasnot yet taken action on the Meadows referral.
source: people.com
