WASHINGTON: Peter Navarro, a former top adviser to ex-US president Donald Trump, has been charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, the Justice Department said on Friday.

A federal grand jury charged Navarro with one count involving his refusal to appear for a deposition before the Jan 6 Select Committee and another for his refusal to produce documents in response to a subpoena, the department said.

Navarro did not enter a plea at his 72-minute hearing before judge Zia Faruqui in the court for the District of Columbia. The former Trump adviser accused the Justice Department of “prosecutorial misconduct” for arresting him at an airport as he tried to depart on a trip to Nashville and New York.

Navarro said authorities ignored his request for them to contact an attorney and refused to allow him to make a phone call during his arrest. “I am disappointed in our republic,” he told the judge. His next court appearance was set for June 17.

A longtime China hawk, Navarro advised Trump on trade issues and also served on his COVID-19 task force. He has contended previously that his communications are protected by executive privilege, a legal principle protecting a president’s communications.

His indictment came a week before the committee is due on June 9 to hold the first in a series of public hearings on its investigation. And it came two days after Navarro filed a civil lawsuit against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House committee.

Trump has urged associates not to cooperate with the Democratic-led investigation, calling it politically motivated.

In its subpoena, the committee said it had reason to believe that Navarro, 72, had information relevant to its investigation.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022