Unlike Scavino and Meadows, however, Navarro openly defied the committee’s request and made no attempt to negotiate terms to comply. And the subpoenas of Meadows and Scavino were complicated.
Both officials served in high-level positions in the Trump West Wing and thus had more compelling cases for claiming executive privilege. Each also made an effort to cooperate with the committee at different points in its investigation. Meadows notably handed over thousands of pages of documents, including text messages that have become an important part of the committee’s work.
Scavino’s attorney Stan Brand applauded the decision in a statement to CNN, saying, “I’m grateful they (the Justice Department) exercised their discretion not to bring this case.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice declined to comment. A spokesperson for the January 6 select committee did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
An attorney familiar with the Meadows and Scavino cases told CNN they were not surprised by the Justice Department’s decision. They argued that both men had engaged the committee, and that unlike Navarro and Steve Bannon, who have both been indicted, Scavino and Meadows had serious claims of privilege.
The Justice Department has come under pressure from House Democrats and others on the left for not being more aggressive in its January 6 investigation, particularly as it concerns the role Trump and his inner circle played in seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election and in making unfounded accusations of mass voter fraud that propelled the violent assault on the US Capitol.
This story has been updated with additional details Friday.
