Navarro has said he plans to represent himself in court. Also Wednesday, prosecutors from the Department of Justice asked for a protective order barring Navarro from disclosing any evidence he receives in the case, especially because he continues to do media appearances about his situation, creating a potential “carnival atmosphere.”

“Clearly, the prosecution’s strategy is to take advantage of an individual without adequate representation,” Navarro said in a letter to the judge, Amit Mehta of the DC District Court, that was made public in his case file. “My very freedom here is at stake and I ask for the court’s understanding that it will take time both to find the appropriate representation and time to develop an appropriate legal strategy.”

In an interview on Fox News Wednesday afternoon, Navarro said hiring a lawyer would cost so much, he would lose his retirement savings.

“This is going to cost a half a million dollars, from what I’m being told,” he said. “I’ll be eating dog food if I stay out of jail.”