Justice Alito Faces Backlash Over January 6-Linked Flags at Residences

May 22, 2024, 08:58 PM

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is facing significant backlash after reports revealed that two controversial flags were flown at his residences. Following the January 6 Capitol riot, an upside-down American flag, a symbol associated with the 'Stop the Steal' movement, was displayed at his Virginia home. Alito has denied involvement, attributing the incident to his wife. However, new reports from the New York Times indicate that an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag, linked to the January 6 insurrection and Christian nationalism, was flown at his New Jersey beach house last summer. This has led to calls from Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Steve Cohen, as well as 45 House Democrats, for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the January 6 insurrection. Alito has declined to comment on the beach house flag incident. Critics, including Sen. Lindsey Graham who called it 'bad judgment,' argue that these actions undermine public confidence in the Supreme Court's impartiality.