‘I’m willing to go to jail for this’ – Peter Navarro lashes out at Ari Melber after suing the Jan. 6 Committee

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro spoke at length with MSNBC host Ari Melber Thursday about a lawsuit he filed against the Justice Department and the Jan. 6 House Committee after the DOJ subpoenaed him for documents and testimony. Navarro has indicated he will refuse, saying the subpoena asked for “fruits of the poisonous tree.”

Navarro was found in contempt of Congress last month for evading a subpoena from the Jan. 6 House Committee, with the House referring him — as well as Trump’s social media manager Dan Scavino — to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. When the January 6 committee voted to defer the contempt charges, Navarro abruptly dropped out of a scheduled appearance that night on Melber’s show.

Thursday’s appearance was another edition of the couple, who grappled with Navarro’s role in the Jan. 6 events, his refusal to cooperate with Congress and his willingness to write a book and speak to the press. (Navarro related The daily beast in December about the “Green Bay Sweep” plan he and Steve Bannon hatched to try to thwart the 2020 election results and keep Trump in power.)

“They’re running this litigation, not to speak to the committee, possibly not the Justice Department, although as you said, TBD,” Melber said. “So you risk potentially going to jail if you don’t speak to them, but you do speak out here in public. Do you realize that these investigators can hear you speaking on TV?”

“What we are talking about now, Ari, is the jurisprudence itself and the constitutionality of executive privilege, testimony and immunity. A second key issue in the case is the separation of powers,” Navarro replied. “This kangaroo committee clearly violated the separation of powers. They are not to act as judges, juries and executioners. They are only intended to exercise a legislative function.”

Melber said he would take Navarro’s premise seriously, and Navarro replied, “You should. That’s why I fight. That’s why I’m willing to go to jail for it.”

The pair walked back and forth for 20 minutes, and Navarro offered no shortage of stormy opinions on what he thinks should be done with Congressional Democrats and the Biden administration.

Melber cited Navarro’s lawsuit: “‘If an incumbent can take privileges away from a predecessor…imagine what will happen to Biden and his advisers if the Republicans win in 2024.'” Melber continued, “Quote: ‘If I’m not dead or in jail I’ll lead the charge.’ what are you threatening And are you suggesting that you would be in a Republican White House? And what are you going to do?”

“You can bet your ass I’ll lead the charge,” Navarro replied. “I’m going to take Adam Schiff and Jamie Raskin and Nancy Pelosi and Rosa DeLauro — all those clowns and kangaroos — I’m going to take Biden and every single executive there –“

“To do what?” interjected Melber.

“Hit them with subpoenas,” Navarro explained. “We’re going to start impeaching Biden over Ukraine, the southern border, all sorts of things he’s guilty of, and we’re going to subpoena his senior staff.”

Melber said he wanted to put on record whether, if Navarro returned to a position of authority in a Republican government, he would “use the Justice Department to subpoena Democrats,” which he doesn’t like.

“I’m going to push as hard as I can to use the same BS the Democrats are using now to try to put me in jail for standing for principles,” Navarro claimed. “If they want to play that game, we’ll play it right back. They’ll hit us, we’ll hit them back harder. That’s not what I want, Ari. let me be clear I do not want that.”

“Well you wrote it in a court filing and just said it on the air, sir,” Melber shot back, “so it sounds like you want it.”