CNN reported that Peter Navarro, the former Trump White House adviser, spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday, just hours after completing a four-month prison sentence.
Navarro warned attendees about potential repercussions, reaffirmed his support for Donald Trump, and recounted his imprisonment experience.
Released from a Miami federal prison, Peter Navarro addressed the Republican National Convention with a stark warning. He cautioned that if authorities could target him and Trump, others should be wary as well.
Navarro's release came after serving a sentence for defying a congressional subpoena from the January 6 committee. Speaking to a receptive crowd, he emphasized the perceived threats posed by authorities targeting high-profile figures like himself and Trump. Navarro stated:
I got a very simple message for you. If they can come for me, if they can come for Donald Trump. Be careful. They will come for you.
His address coincided with the formal nomination of Donald Trump as the 2024 GOP presidential candidate. This underscored the ongoing influence of Trump and his associates within the party.
Navarro is one of two Trump advisers convicted for not complying with subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack. Steve Bannon, another adviser, began serving his sentence earlier this month in Connecticut.
During his imprisonment, Navarro worked as a law library clerk. Navarro’s prison consultant, Sam Mangel, described him as well-liked and respected by fellow inmates.
"Everybody has to work. It gave him a chance to write," Mangel said. He added, "When I went to visit him, guys were coming up to him, high-fiving him."
Navarro's conviction stemmed from his refusal to comply with the January 6 committee's requests for documents and an interview. A federal jury found him guilty on two counts of contempt last summer.
Navarro defended his actions by claiming he acted under Trump's directive via executive privilege. However, the judge dismissed this defense, citing insufficient evidence. He is currently appealing his conviction on its merits after an unsuccessful emergency appeal to delay his sentence.
The federal correctional facility where Navarro served his sentence houses fewer than 200 inmates, with a significant Puerto Rican population. Despite his circumstances, Navarro maintained his political stance and public presence.
Ending his speech at the convention, Navarro introduced his fiancée and advocated for the Trump-Vance presidential ticket for 2024. "This is my beautiful girl. She did the time with me," he said, bringing her onstage. He concluded with a rallying call: "Now here’s the sweetest thing that’s going to come off my lips: Vote Trump-Vance ’24 for Trump 47."
Peter Navarro, recently released from a four-month prison sentence, warned GOP convention attendees about potential government overreach. He emphasized his support for Donald Trump, highlighted his prison experience, and endorsed the Trump-Vance presidential ticket. Despite legal challenges, Navarro's influence within the party remains significant, exemplified by his prominent speech at the convention.
