House OKs criminal contempt referrals for Trump aides Scavino and ...

Then-White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino delivers a recorded address for the Republican National Convention on Aug. 26, 2020, in the empty Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.The U.S. House voted Wednesday to hold former Trump White House aides Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino in criminal contempt of Congress after they defied subpoenas from the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, the only two Republicans appointed to serve on the select committee, were the only two from their party to vote for the referral."To run into this kind of obstruction, this kind of cynical behavior, as we investigate a violent insurrection, is just despicable," select committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said on the House floor ahead of the vote. Scavino's deposition date was scheduled and rescheduled six different times, Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Jan. 6 panel member, said during Wednesday's debate.Navarro was subpoenaed in February, while Scavino was among the first wave of ex-Trump officials subpoenaed last September.Wednesday's floor vote marks the third for a criminal contempt referral effort tied to the Jan. 6 committee's work.