Judge expresses concern about harsh DOJ methods in misdemeanor arrest of Navarro

On Wednesday, Just the News reported on growing outcry against perceived Justice Department strong-arm tactics targeting skeptics of the 2020 presidential election outcome and other critics of the Biden administration.

The federal judge overseeing the contempt of Congress case against Peter Navarro on Friday questioned the decision of prosecutors to publicly arrest the former Trump White House trade official rather than just summon him to court.

Just the News reported Wednesday on the growing outcry among legal experts against perceived Justice Department strong-arm tactics targeting skeptics of the 2020 presidential election outcome and other critics of the Biden administration.

An architect of Trump administration trade policy, Navarro produced in an unofficial capacity a three-part report questioning the "fairness and integrity" of the 2020 presidential election.

Navarro was publicly arrested by FBI agents at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C. last month on misdemeanor charges that he acted in contempt of Congress by defying a subpoena from House Democrats' committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

According to Navarro, federal agents put him in handcuffs, leg irons, strip-searched him, denied him a chance to call his lawyer, and deprived him of food and water. The Justice Department has said those claims are false.

At a hearing in Navarro's case on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta indicated he agreed federal agents used unnecessary force against the former White House official, Politico reported.

"It is curious … at a minimum why the government treated Mr. Navarro's arrest in the way it did," said Mehta. "It is a federal crime, but it is not a violent crime."

Mehta said it was baffling that prosecutors didn't simply tell Navarro he was going to be charged and let him walk into an FBI office.

"It is a surprise to me that self-surrender was not offered," said the judge, who didn't demand an explanation from prosecutors.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/judge-expresses-concern-about-fbi-treatment-navarro

Biden vows executive orders on climate, health care amid legislative stall

The evenly divided Senate has largely shut down major legislation

President Joe Biden on Friday stated he would pursue executive action on climate change and health care unless Congress sent legislation to his desk consistent with his agenda.

“So let me be clear: if the Senate will not move to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen our domestic clean energy industry, I will take strong executive action to meet this moment,” he said in a Friday statement. “My actions will create jobs, improve our energy security, bolster domestic manufacturing and supply chains, protect us from oil and gas price hikes in the future, and address climate change.”

Biden gave few details as to potential actions but encouraged the Senate to "move forward" with legislative efforts on these issues.

While the Democratic Party currently maintains a majority in the House and has passed a plethora of legislation on climate and health care issues, the evenly divided Senate has largely shut down such measures. Though Vice President Kamala Harris may act as a tie-breaking vote, Democrats must overcome the filibuster's 60-vote threshold to send legislation to Biden's desk.

Biden's domestic agenda has largely stalled in Congress, with Republicans and Democrats alike delivering blows to critical legislation. West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin on Thursday declined to support a Democrat-led economic package due to concerns about the climate and tax provisions in the legislation and record inflation.

Alongside Democratic Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Manchin has also resisted his party's efforts to abolish or circumvent the Senate filibuster to push pivotal legislation over Republican objections, including on major issues such as abortion rights.

Legislative success has bot been entirely elusive for Biden, however, as his party successfully wooed 15 Republicans in late June to pass the Bipartisan Safe Communities Act, a modest gun control bill expanding background checks and funding mass shooting prevention programs following a string of such incidents.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/biden-vows-executive-orders-climate-health-care-amid-legislative-stall

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