Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump's personal lawyers asked the Supreme Court on Friday to step into an escalating clash between the legislative and the executive branches and block a House subpoena for Trump's personal financial documents.

The dispute goes to the heart of Congress' power to investigate and further its legislative function amid broad claims from Trump that the congressional committee has exceeded its authority.

In an emergency petition, the lawyers are asking the Supreme Court to put a federal appeals court opinion on hold while they prepare to ask the high court to add the case to this term's docket.

"For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has subpoenaed the personal records of a sitting President from before he was in office," Jay Sekulow, the President's personal lawyer, said in a statement. "In light of the significant constitutional issues involved in this case, we are hopeful that the stay will be granted pending the timely filing of a Petition for Certiorari on behalf of the President."

The request is directed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who has jurisdiction over the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Roberts will likely refer the filing to his colleagues for their review.

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