The Daily Fuckup

Peter Navarro was already deep into a contempt fight with the House Jan. 6 committee by May 22, 2022. The panel had subpoenaed the former White House adviser on February 9, 2022, saying he appeared to have information directly relevant to its investigation into the attack on the Capitol and the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Navarro did not comply, setting up a legal fight that was still unresolved on this date. citeturn0search0turn0search1

The House had already escalated the matter on April 6, 2022, voting to hold Navarro and Dan Scavino in contempt of Congress and refer both men to the Justice Department. As of May 22, that referral had been made, but no indictment had been filed yet. The later criminal charge came on June 3, 2022, which places it outside the timeline for this edition date. citeturn0search1turn0search2

Navarro’s case sat alongside Stephen Bannon’s separate contempt prosecution, which showed the committee was willing to push enforcement when subpoenaed witnesses refused to cooperate. Bannon had been indicted in November 2021, making him the earlier test of whether the Justice Department would back the committee’s subpoenas with criminal charges. citeturn0search3turn0search2

For Navarro, the immediate reality on May 22 was simpler: the subpoena had been issued, the House had voted to refer him, and the Justice Department had not yet brought charges. The legal exposure was real, but the next step had not happened yet. citeturn0search0turn0search1turn0search2