The Supreme Court refused to block President-elect Donald Trump’s criminal sentencing for covering up hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, clearing the way for an unprecedented court proceeding in New York.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke with Trump on Tuesday, while he has an appeal before the high court to block his New York sentencing.

The justice said that the call was a job reference for one of his former clerks and that the request to stay the president-elect’s sentencing did not come up.