Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Friday revealed that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had an upside-down flag displayed at his home a week after the 2020 election. In response, he asked that he recuse himself from any lawsuits related to the 2020 election. The January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
“Holding an upside-down American flag, a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement, clearly gives the impression of bigotry,” Durbin said in a statement.
“Justice Alito should immediately recuse himself from litigation related to the 2020 election and the January 6 riot, including the issue of former president immunity in United States v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering.” he added.
Alito says his wife was thrown an upside-down flag after an argument with an insulting neighbor
Sen. Dick Durbin asked Judge Alito to recuse himself from lawsuits related to the 2020 election, including the issue of President Trump’s immunity. (Getty Images)
The outcome of former President Trump’s federal election interference lawsuit will depend, among other things, on how the Supreme Court rules on former President Trump’s immunity claim.
“The court is in a self-inflicted ethical crisis, and Judge Alito and the rest of the court should do everything in their power to restore the public’s trust,” Justice Durbin said.
The Illinois senator said the revelations are “further evidence” that Congress should enact a code of conduct for the Supreme Court. He appealed to his colleagues to support passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Vote, and Transparency Act.
“Supreme Court justices should be held to the highest ethical standards, not the lowest,” he said.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha Ann attend the swearing-in ceremony in the East Room of the White House in February 2006. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the Supreme Court for comment from Alito, but did not immediately receive a response.
Days after the Capitol riot in 2021 in which Trump supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election, an upside-down American flag was seen flying at the home of Alito and his wife Martha Ann. Ta. new york times report. This placement of the flag is understood to symbolize a nation in crisis, and was adopted by some in the wake of the events of January 6 to express resistance to the results of the 2020 election.
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham, R.S.C., did not comment to Fox News Digital.
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Supreme Court, February 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
Alito detailed the situation to Fox News’ Shannon Bream, saying it started in January 2021 after a resident put up a “F— Trump” sign right next to a school bus stop. He said an argument started in the neighborhood.
When his wife told a neighbor about the disrespectful sign, the conversation was not productive, he explained.
According to the judge, the same neighbor took the disagreement further by putting up a sign that placed Martha Ann personally responsible for the events of January 6th.
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Former President Donald Trump headlines the Republican National Committee’s Spring Donor Retreat on May 4, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Donald Trump 2024 Campaign)
Later, the resident of the house where the sign was located started arguing with his wife while they were out walking, calling her names “including the C-word”.
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He explained that her decision to fly the upside-down flag on the grounds was a response to the growing feud, which only flew “for a short period of time.”
Alito said he didn’t think it was his place to order his wife not to do something like this, and characterized his neighbors as “very political.”
