Donald Trump told a former aide to defy a House committee subpoena.
"I told Peter to protect executive privilege and not allow the Democrats to ruin our great accomplishments," Trump said in a statement on Saturday.
Liz Harrington is from the United States.
The Communist Democrats are going after my Administration's unprecedented and incredible coronaviruses response, despite the fact that more Americans have died this year from Covid than in all of 2020.
The congressional committee issued a subpoena on Thursday for a former White House trade adviser who was involved in the response to the virus.
Peter Navarro advised Trump on supply shortages and helped negotiate purchases of medical supplies and drugs, according to a report.
He sparred with top health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who he called "evil", and promoted policies that were not backed by science.
Trump wants his former aides to not cooperate with congressional committees.
Several former aides and allies have been told by the former president to ignore subpoenas from the House committee.
Steve Bannon, his former advisor, was charged with criminal contempt.
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronaviruses Crisis has issued two subpoenas this year. Steven Hatfill was issued one in September.
According to a memo issued by Rep. James Clyburn, the committee on Thursday ordered Navarro to turn over documents and sit for a deposition after he failed to respond to their requests for months.
Clyburn said that the subpoena was issued because of his "central role in the pandemic response, the importance of the Select Subcommittee's investigation, and his continued refusal to cooperate voluntarily."
He said that the Trump administration appears to have prioritized politics over the response to the outbreak, and that they promoted the idea that the election results were fraudulent.
In response, he said that he would be delivering a case of his new book to the committee.
He wrongly blamed Anthony Fauci for the spread of the virus.
The November 20, 2021 date is mentioned by Peter Navarro.
