In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Steve Bannon, the former Trump White House aide and right-wing podcaster, allowing his case to proceed while he remains incarcerated. The court's decision was communicated through a concise one-sentence order, which denied Bannon's application for release pending appeal.

Following this ruling, Bannon has been given a deadline and is required to report to a federal prison in Connecticut by July 1st. This decision comes as a consequence of his refusal to comply with a congressional investigation into the siege on the U.S. Capitol. Two years ago, Bannon was convicted on two criminal contempt charges by a federal jury in Washington, D.C., for failing to cooperate with subpoenas for documents and testimony from the House Select Committee probing the events of January 6, 2021.

Despite attempting to delay his four-month prison sentence through the appeals process, Bannon's luck ran out in May when a federal appeals court unanimously rejected his claims. He now joins a growing list of Trump-era officials, including trade adviser Peter Navarro, who have been ordered to serve prison time for disregarding demands from Congress.

Both Bannon and Navarro had contended that their refusal to cooperate with Congress was an assertion of the Constitution's separation of powers. However, the judges found no evidence that former President Trump had formally asserted executive privilege to prevent their cooperation with lawmakers.

During his trial, Bannon tried to argue that he had relied on advice from his attorney and lacked the intent to willfully violate the contempt law. However, the judge dismissed this defense based on court precedent, although significant questions were raised regarding it.

Bannon's imprisonment on misdemeanor charges could potentially extend until the November election, as he has been an active supporter of Trump's bid to regain the White House later this year. Additionally, he faces separate legal battles in New York state court, where he is fighting fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud donors to a charity that aimed to construct a wall along the southern border. The trial for this case is scheduled for later this year.

It is important to note that Bannon was granted a full pardon by former President Trump for federal charges connected to the "We Build the Wall" project in January 2021, shortly before leaving the White House. However, it is crucial to remember that presidential pardons do not extend to state crimes.

With the Supreme Court's denial of his appeal for release, Bannon finds himself inching closer to serving his prison sentence, while his legal battles continue to unfold.