Peter Navarro loses bid to stay out of prison during appeal

Former White House adviser Peter Navarro must go to prison despite any pending appeals, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

In a 12-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta denied Navarro's request after he was sentenced to four months in prison for refusing to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee.

"In his sentencing memorandum, Defendant requested release pending appeal if the court imposed a term of prison," Mehta wrote. "Defendant raises four grounds to support his motion for release pending appeal. As explained below, because Defendant has not shown that any of those issues will pose a 'substantial question of law' on appeal, his motion is denied."

Mehta said that former President Donald Trump's executive privilege claim "likely will not lead to reversal of his conviction for refusing to appear for testimony." The judge pointed out that Trump was not a sitting president when he invoked executive privilege.

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"Thus, even if the former President had invoked privilege, at a minimum, such invocation did not reach testimony pertaining non-official acts," Mehta explained. "Therefore, no authority excused his complete non-appearance before the Select Committee."

"For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s request for release pending appeal is denied," the ruling concluded. "Unless this Order is stayed or vacated by the D.C. Circuit, Defendant shall report to the designated Bureau of Prisons ('BOP') facility on the date ordered by the BOP."