An upside-down flag, adopted by Trump supporters contesting the Biden victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as the Supreme Court was considering an election case.
An upside-down flag, adopted by Trump supporters contesting the Biden victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as the Supreme Court was considering an election case.
After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.
One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in Alexandria, Va., according to photographs and interviews with neighbors.
The upside-down flag was aloft on Jan. 17, 2021, the images showed. President Donald J. Trump’s supporters, including some brandishing the same symbol, had rioted at the Capitol a little over a week before. Mr. Biden’s inauguration was three days away. Alarmed neighbors snapped photographs, some of which were recently obtained by The New York Times. Word of the flag filtered back to the court, people who worked there said in interviews.
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“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Justice Alito said in an emailed statement to The Times. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”
Judicial experts said in interviews that the flag was a clear violation of ethics rules, which seek to avoid even the appearance of bias, and could sow doubt about Justice Alito’s impartiality in cases related to the election and the Capitol riot.
It’s also insane that four Democrats voted in favor of Alito’s appointment. Of all the times to reach across the aisle, they do it on the longest lasting decision they’ll make in that position.
Like Merrick Garland? Basically the only guy who could have maybe made it through a confirmation hearing with a Republican-controlled Congress when Obama was in office? Someone who couldn't really be attacked on the merits, making it pretty obvious that McConnell's shenanigans were 100% political? Or are Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson moderates?
Ugh, did they really co-opt flying the fucking flag upside down? I deliberately put the dumb little flags that came with my shooting earmuffs on upside down because it works well with my "defend equality" patch... This country is in crisis and the fascists are the reason why.
Why is anyone even pretending to buy his bullshit. We all have seen the rulings, we’ve all heard his shouting, we’ve all witnessed his willingness to shred, delay, and deal for his party. so let’s drop this did he or didn’t he bullshit and figure out what the fuck to do about it.
The only thing even remotely surprising about that is that he threw his wife under the bus. And I'm only slightly surprised that he did that rather than just come out and admit it proudly.
Yes, this, of all things, is the one thing sowing doubt in Justice Alito's impartiality. Before this he's been an absolute model of impartiality. No one has ever been more impartial.
Oh no! An impartial Justice! It's a good thing we have CLEARLY ENFORCEABLE RULES against the Highest Court in the Land making Judgements not based on Law but based on Bias!
The justices are to self-manage and recuse themselves in such situations
The real trouble is, this isn't even just a "situation." "Stop the steal" is based on a fundamental opposition to the rule of law, which is wholly incompatible with being a judge -- let alone a Supreme Court Justice -- at all.