A federal judge has issued a stern warning to former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, threatening to hold him in contempt of court for failing to return dozens, if not hundreds, of presidential records to the National Archives. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has given Navarro until March 20 to review and turn over roughly 600 emails from his time in office that he has withheld despite previous court orders.

The Justice Department had filed a lawsuit against Navarro, accusing him of conducting government business using a nonofficial email account and failing to respond to requests to return the emails. Despite months of legal battles over the nature of the emails, the judge found that a significant percentage of the records were related to the discharge of presidential duties.

Navarro, who also faces legal troubles for ignoring a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, has until March 21 to show why he should not face a contempt finding. An attorney for Navarro has declined to comment on the matter.

The recent development adds to the ongoing legal challenges facing Navarro, as he awaits a potential contempt of court ruling which is typically punishable by a fine. The judge has ordered a magistrate judge to review the records in Navarro's stead to determine the extent of the withheld presidential records.