Steve Bannon, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, urging a delay in his prison sentence as he fights his convictions for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol. This comes after a federal appeals court panel recently rejected Bannon's bid to avoid reporting to prison by July 1, to serve his four-month sentence.

Addressed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees emergency appeals from courts in Washington, D.C., Bannon's plea asks for a postponement of his sentence while he awaits a review of his case by the Supreme Court. The court has requested a response from the Justice Department by Wednesday, just days before the start of its summer recess.

Bannon, who was convicted almost two years ago on two counts of contempt of Congress, has portrayed the case against him as politically motivated. His lawyer, David Schoen, has argued that the proceedings raise significant constitutional questions that need examination by the highest court in the land.

The former Trump adviser maintains that he did not ignore the subpoena but was engaged in negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged. Bannon's previous attorney argued that the subpoena was invalid due to executive privilege being invoked by Trump, and because the committee did not permit a Trump lawyer to be present during his deposition.

Bannon's emergency application argues that if he is required to begin his prison term in July, he would likely have served his full sentence before the Supreme Court has an opportunity to review the constitutional issues raised in his case. His lawyer highlights the timing and asserts that it is essential for the court to consider these matters, particularly given Bannon's role as a top adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign.

While Bannon's imprisonment has been delayed during his appeals process, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols recently ordered him to surrender himself after an appeals court panel upheld his contempt of Congress convictions. Another Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, faced a similar fate earlier this year when he reported to prison to serve his four-month sentence after the Supreme Court declined his request for a postponement.

In a parallel legal battle, Bannon is also facing criminal charges in New York state court related to allegations that he defrauded donors who contributed to the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud. The trial for this case has been postponed until at least the end of September.

As the Supreme Court reviews Bannon's emergency application and grapples with the constitutional questions surrounding his case, the former Trump aide awaits a final decision on his prison sentence for contempt of Congress.