US House holds two former Trump aides in contempt
Washington, Apr 6 (EFE).- The United States House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to hold two former Trump aides in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to collaborate with the select committee investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
With 220 votes in favor and 203 against, the Lower House, controlled by the Democrats, approved the move against former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and former White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.
Last week the select committee investigating the assault on Capitol Hill, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously to recommend that the House hold Scavino and Navarro in contempt.
The declaration of contempt will now go to the Department of Justice, which must decide whether to summon a grand jury to formally accuse them of the charge through criminal channels.
Contempt carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The members of the select committee say they have repeatedly asked Scavino and Navarro to testify or provide relevant information, and that they have refused to collaborate.
The Lower House has already declared ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who will stand trial in July on two counts, and the president’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress.
The committee was created by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and is made up of a majority of Democrats, with two Republicans – Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger – who are at odds with Trump.
Its mission is to investigate why the riot occurred, who was responsible, and what can be done to prevent another.
On Jan. 6, 2021, some 10,000 people – most of them Trump supporters – marched towards the Capitol and about 800 stormed the building to prevent the ratification of the victory of Joe Biden against Trump in the November 2020 presidential election.
Five people died and about 140 officers were attacked in the incident. EFE
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