WASHINGTON (AP), -- On Wednesday, the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol Insurrection subpoenaed Peter Navarro, former White House trade advisor. The House committee wanted to question an ally former President Donald Trump for false claims of voter fraud in 2020.
The committee wants information and testimony from Navarro. They claim that Navarro was involved in attempts to delay Congress' certification for the 2020 election and eventually change the results.
"Mr. Thompson said that Navarro appears have information directly related to the Select Committee investigation into the causes behind the attack on Capitol Hill, January 6, 2019. "He has not been shy about his involvement in efforts to overturn results of 2020 election and has even discussed former President's support for these plans." Navarro did no immediate respond to a request to comment.
The panel of nine members said they have information from reporting, public interviews and even Navarro himself that shows he collaborated with Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, to create and implement a plan for delaying the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory on January 6, 2021. Navarro was among the White House staffers that promoted Trump's false claims of mass voter fraud. In December 2020, Navarro released a report claiming to contain evidence of the misconduct.
Before joining the Trump campaign in 2016, the 72-year-old ex-economics professor was seen to be a man with unconventional ideas. After Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, stumbled upon Navarro’s book on China during an internet search, the former president asked him to join his team.
Navarro was named to the head of a new White House National Trade Council after Trump assumed office. He was soon replaced by John Kelly, the chief of staff, and closely managed in this capacity by Rob Porter (ex-staff secretary).
Navarro is the latest victim to be served with a subpoena by the committee in the vast investigation that began last summer. The congressional probe has focused on Trump's family and close allies, Congressmen and members of Congress as well as social media groups that are accused of spreading election misinformation.
The Capitol attack investigation committee is not the only group of legislators seeking Navarro's compliance. In November, a House subcommittee that was established to investigate Trump's response to COVID-19 subpoenaed him. He refused their request, citing an "direct order" from Trump to assert executive privilege.
The Jan. 6 select panel, which is comprised seven Democrats and two Republicans and has subpoenaed nearly 100 people and interviewed almost 500.
In the coming months, the committee will move into a more public-facing phase in its work. To provide the American public with the most complete and detailed information possible about the events and individuals that led to the Capitol Insurrection, lawmakers will hold hearings.
