Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) responded to reports that President Biden had called the Supreme Court “out of balance” at a fundraiser this weekend, calling the court “blatantly corrupt and blatantly political.”
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Murphy said it was “totally” appropriate for Biden to criticize the Supreme Court.
Asked about the appropriateness of Biden’s comments, Murphy added, “I think it’s irresponsible for the president not to talk about the fact that this Supreme Court has become so blatantly corrupt and so blatantly politicized.”
“And it’s up to the American people in this election to do something about it,” he said, adding that Congress must also act and pass a code of ethics “before it’s too late.”
The interview came amid calls for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from upcoming cases related to the January 6 attack on the Capitol and the 2020 presidential election after reports showed two flags flying in front of his home that are linked to efforts to keep former President Trump in power beyond 2020. Justice Alito has rejected those calls.
In one instance after the 2020 election, an upside-down American flag was flown — a symbol historically used to show distress that was also used by people protesting the defeat of former President Trump and later became associated with the “Stop the Steal” movement, which sought to halt the transfer of presidential power based on false claims of election fraud.
And in 2023, Alito flew an “Appeal to Heaven” flag at his New Jersey vacation home. The flag has roots in the American Revolutionary War but has more recently been used as a call for conservative, Bible-centered government and was seen among the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6.
Alito said his wife decided to fly the flag at their home, saying she “has the legal right to use the land as she sees fit” and that she “likes having the flag flying.”
Justice Clarence Thomas is similarly facing calls to resign amid allegations that his wife, Virginia, was involved in a campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Like Justice Alito, Justice Thomas has refused to resign.
He has also come under fire for accepting lavish gifts and vacations from billionaire Harlan Crow, largely uncovered in a ProPublica investigation that has called into question his ability to remain impartial.
Murphy pointed to these examples as evidence of a “crisis” in the courts.
“I think the court is in crisis, particularly with regard to Justices Alito and Thomas. What Justice Thomas is engaging in is just fraud. He’s hired powerful outside politicians who have an absolute vested interest in the politics and business of the court to bribe the justices,” Murphy said. “Justice Alito has openly demonstrated his involvement in political campaigns in public.”
