The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the dismissal of Steve Bannon's contempt of Congress case by declining to hear his appeal and sending the matter back to a lower court.

Bannon, a longtime ally of President Trump, was convicted in 2022 for defying a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He refused to testify before the committee and provide requested documents related to the events of that day.

The former White House strategist served four months in prison for the contempt charges. His legal team had appealed the conviction to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the lower court's decision.

Rather than hearing arguments in the case, the justices issued an order that vacates the conviction and returns the matter to a lower court. This procedural move is expected to allow the incoming Trump administration's Department of Justice to dismiss the case entirely.

The Supreme Court's action represents a significant development for Bannon, who has been a prominent figure in Trump's political orbit. The contempt charges stemmed from the House committee's investigation into the events surrounding January 6, when Congress was certifying the 2020 election results.

The dismissal would effectively clear Bannon of the criminal conviction, though the Supreme Court's order does not constitute a ruling on the merits of the underlying case or the contempt of Congress charges themselves.