Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Monday bashed Biden administration prison officials for denying him access to former Trump aide Peter Navarro.
In a floor speech, the Fort Walton Beach Republican said the response by the Federal Bureau of Prisons appears to validate Navarro’s claim of being a “political prisoner.”
Gaetz, who also does a daily podcast called “Firebrand,” said he has sought the FBOP’s permission to interview Navarro for the past five weeks and has gotten nowhere.
Read: Former Biden DOJ Official Prosecuting Trump Received Thousands Of Dollars From DNC
As the Tampa Free Press reported in January, an Obama-appointed judge sentenced Navarro to four months in prison and a $9,500 fine for refusing to cooperate with a subpoena issued by the Democrats’ special committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Navarro was convicted in September of two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a J6 committee subpoena to turn over documents and sit for a deposition. Navarro labeled the committee, which was handpicked by Democratic former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a “kangaroo court.”
Former President Donald Trump’s one-time trade policy adviser insisted he was covered by executive privilege.
Navarro appealed.
But in March he reported to a Miami prison to serve his sentence after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to allow him to remain free while his appeal is pending.
Read: Another Right-Wing “Conspiracy Theory” About To Come True
In his speech Monday, Gaetz said FBOP Director Colette Peters director told him directly that his request for a sit-down with Navarro was denied because the defendant is “too notorious” to be interviewed.
“John Gotti was interviewed while he was in prison,” Gaetz noted. “The QAnon Shaman was interviewed in prison. Director Peters herself brought NBC News through prisons to showcase the work of corrections that’s being done!”
Gaetz also claimed that Navarro is being denied access to his lawyer.
“I think it is shameful what has been done to Peter Navarro, based on a sham January 6 committee and a sham indictment and a sham conviction,” said Gaetz.
“The actions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons … seem to be vindicating the claim made by Peter Navarro that he is being held as a political prisoner.”
__Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.__
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter.Sign up for our free newsletter.
