'Sad times': Internet outraged as SCOTUS denies stay of sentence for ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro

WASHINGTON, DC: Peter Navarro, former Trump White House trade adviser, is expected to report to prison as scheduled following the US Supreme Court's rejection of a stay in his sentence, as reported by the New York Post.

On Monday, March 18, Chief Justice John Roberts denied Navarro's last-minute appeal seeking his release amid his pending appeal for conviction for ignoring a subpoena from the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

"I see no basis to disagree with the determination," Roberts wrote, referring to a lower court verdict in January sentencing him to a four-month imprisonment.

Peter Navarro to report to prison on March 19

Following the Supreme Court's rejection of his motion, the former Trump advisor is obligated to report to the Miami federal prison to commence serving his four-month jail sentence.

While the 74-year-old claimed that the ex-president's executive privilege prevented him from cooperating with the House Select Committee, the court ruled that the same did not apply to him.

According to the website Constitution Annotated, executive privilege grants the president the authority to "withhold documents or information in his possession or in the possession of the Executive Branch from the Legislative or Judicial Branch of the government."

Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist during the Trump Administration, similarly defied a congressional subpoena.

He was also sentenced to four months in prison and received a $6,500 fine after being found guilty in 2022 of two charges of contempt of Congress. However, Bannon appealed the imprisonment.

Besides the charges in the congressional subpoena, Navarro is also facing a civil suit from the Department of Justice for not returning presidential records to the National Archives and Records Administration after leaving the White House.

In a statement responding to the judge's denial of his motion to stay the sentence, Navarro said, "Justice Roberts took care to note that his reason for denial was 'distinct from [my] pending appeal on the merits.'"

He added, "That appeal on the merits will continue, and if I fail in that appeal – after nonetheless serving my full prison term — the constitutional separation of powers will be irreparably damaged."

"There is much at stake here and it is worth the fight," he further said.

The former White House aide, currently appealing the conviction, will become the highest-ranking officer under the Trump Administration to be incarcerated on charges related to the 2020 election.

Internet reacts to court's decision against Navarro

Expressing their frustration with the court's decision against Navarro, netizens questioned why Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was not incarcerated despite defying a congressional subpoena.

One user wrote, "This is an absolute travesty. When will Hunter and Eric Holder go to prison? Oh, yeah, right, never."

Another user labeled the court's decision as "Disgraceful political persecution."

"Sad times. This is wrong. Witch hunts all over again," an individual argued.

A response read, "'defying a subpoena', eh? What about Holder, Hillary, Hunter?" [sic]

"Why is Hunter not arrested and charged for the same damn thing?" an outraged user questioned.

Someone else expressed disappointment, saying, "Courts are corrupt." While another added, "FYI- Not one Democrat has ever gone to prison for contempt of congress even though many were recommended to the DOJ??? Lady Liberty needs a blindfold adjustment!" [sic]

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.