Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Blames Wife Over Flag Controversy Again, Vows Not to Step Down
The controversy regarding Justice Samuel Alito over him flying two controversial flags has placed more scrutiny on the Supreme Court's inviolability as he once again blames his wife for flying a second controversial flag that was flown by pro-Donald Trump insurrectionists at the Capitol on January 6.
"The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal," he said in the letter that was distributed by the Supreme Court. "As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention."
CNN noted that this response was highly unusual as it underscored "how the revelations about the flags have dogged Alito for days." Back-and-forths between Supreme Court justices and lawmakers are rare, with Supreme Court justices often not explaining their seasons for recusing themselves from a case or not.
Concerns about Alito being a biased judge are raising concerns, especially as he has flown the two controversial flags that have been tied to January 6 and the pro-Trump movement. These flags are an upside-down US flag that was supposed to show solidarity with the January 6 insurrectionists, while the other is a revolution-era flag co-opted by the Trump supporters called "Appeal to Heaven."
"My wife is a private citizen, and she possesses the same First Amendment rights as every other American," he wrote in the letter. "She makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so."
"My wife is fond of flying flags, I am not," he added. He has previously blamed his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, for flying the upside-down US flag days in their Virginia home after January 6. He blamed her again for putting up the "Appeal to Heaven" flag in their New Jersey vacation home.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's Wife Claims Upside-Down Flag a 'Sign of Distress.'
It also seems that Martha-Ann Alito is willing to take the bullet for her husband as she is also repeating his claims that she was the one who put up the pro-Trump flags in the first place. As a Supreme Court justice, Alito is morally obligated not to side with any one party, let alone a specific candidate, especially one with cases pending in the Supreme Court.
Martha-Ann told the Washington Post that the upside-down flag has long been a sign of distress for the military and she flew it because of a dispute with her neighbors. However, this situation has been muddled as this has now been adopted by supporters of the "Stop the Steal" movement who falsely claim that Trump won the 2020 election.
The dispute Alito's wife had with their neighbors was reportedly over objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."
Lawmakers Want to Sanction Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
Because of the recent controversy regarding the two Trump-aligned flags he has flown in his home, Democratic Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen has filed a motion to censure the Supreme Court justice and it is slowly getting some traction.
Alito earned bipartisan criticism for flying the flag upside down, but despite this, the motion is unlikely to get a vote in the Republican-controlled House, according to Axios.
READ MORE: US Supreme Court Adopts Code of Ethics for the First Time Amid Clarence Thomas Corruption Scandal
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: SCOTUS Justice Samuel Alito Blames WIFE For Upside-Down Flag Outside House - The Hill