Former economic adviser and close ally of Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, was indicted on Friday for “obstructing the investigative powers of Congress” regarding the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, announced the US Department of Health. Justice.

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Navarro, 72, was charged with refusing to testify and provide documents to the House Committee investigating the Capitol storming, when thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the seat of the US Congress to try to block the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory.

The former adviser was taken into custody and is due to appear before a judge on Friday afternoon, according to federal court in Washington.

Peter Navarro has indeed "made no secret of his role in the maneuvers aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 election and even mentioned the former president's support for these projects", according to the head of the parliamentary inquiry, Democrat Bennie Thompson.

According to the so-called “January 6” commission, Mr. Navarro also worked with former political adviser to Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, to “delay congressional certification” and change the outcome of the election.

Mr. Bannon was also the first close friend of Donald Trump to be charged with “obstructing” this parliamentary inquiry in November.

The commission of inquiry, which has already heard from hundreds of witnesses, wants at all costs to complete its work before the mid-term legislative elections in November.

If Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives on the ballot, the commission risks being disbanded by Republicans. She plans to hold public hearings as early as next week.

Peter Navarro faces between 30 days and a year in prison, as well as a fine of up to $100,000 for each count.

On Tuesday, the former adviser filed a lawsuit against the commission, alleging that its investigation was illegal and that it had no authority to subpoena him, but a federal judge on Thursday asked Mr. Navarro to file his complaint with again because of a procedural defect.

Despite the recommendations of House officials, the US Department of Justice has not yet charged Mark Meadows, Donald Trump's former chief of staff, or Dan Scavino, another close adviser to the Republican billionaire, the two men having also refused to cooperate with the Congressional investigation.