The US supreme court has turned down a request from a foreign-government-owned company in a case that may be linked to Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential election.

In a brief order on Monday, the court turned down the company’s attempt to avoid paying a daily fine of $50,000 imposed by a federal judge in Washington for refusing to comply with a subpoena. The name of the country and company and details of the investigation were not publicly disclosed.

There was no indication of how the nine justices voted.

As Mueller’s investigation already has implicated foreign entities, the subpoena could be linked to the investigation. Mueller’s office has declined to comment. Russia has denied meddling in the election.

Mueller in February charged three Russian companies as part of a criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper in the election to support Donald Trump and disparage his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Mueller also has charged a series of Russian individuals.

When the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit heard oral arguments in the dispute on 14 December, court officials sealed the courtroom, preventing reporters from identifying any of the lawyers involved.

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act allows foreign countries to avoid being sued in US courts, but does not cover commercial activities.

Minutes after the supreme court denied the company’s request, the appeals court issued a more detailed 28-page redacted explanation of its initial 18 December ruling that upheld the penalties.

The unsigned ruling by a three-judge panel concluded: “There is a reasonable probability the information sought through the subpoena here concerns a commercial activity that caused a direct effect in the United States.“

The ruling, which revealed the dollar amount of the daily penalty, noted that the company has a US office and that the company says it has no relevant documents in the United States.

Chief Justice John Roberts on 23 December put a temporary hold on the case while the justices decided how to proceed.