Justice Alito's wife accused of instigating 'ugly' dispute as neighbors called cops over upside-down flag

WASHINGTON, DC: Neighbors of US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann Alito have come forward with explosive claims, contradicting the justice's assertions and alleging that the latter was the catalyst behind an "ugly" confrontation that escalated to shocking levels.

In a recent report by the New York Times, it was revealed that just days before Joe Biden's inauguration on January 17, 2021, an upside-down American flag was displayed in the Alitos' front yard.

Justice Samuel Alito's upside-down flag sparks heated neighbor dispute

This act, typically reserved as a signal of “dire distress in instance of extreme danger to life or property” became symbolic of the fervent beliefs held by Trump loyalists who contested the outcome of the 2020 election. Adding fuel to the fire, the Alitos also flew another flag associated with election deniers at their New Jersey beach house.

The controversy deepened when Justice Alito attributed the upside-down flag to a dispute with a neighbor, a claim refuted by the alleged victim who stated that confrontations with Martha-Ann only occurred after the flag was removed.

The Times interviewed Emily Baden and her partner, shedding light on a series of contentious encounters with the Alitos that culminated in shocking allegations of harassment and vulgar language.

The situation took a dramatic turn when Martha-Ann allegedly spat at her neighbor's vehicle during one encounter, further escalating tensions. Subsequent interactions between the neighbors devolved into verbal altercations, with accusations of derogatory language and aggressive behavior exchanged on both sides.

Insights into the upside-down flag controversey

The Fairfax County, VA, police received an unusual phone call on February 15, 2021, where a young couple reported harassment by the wife of a Supreme Court justice. “Somebody in a position of authority needs to talk to her and make her stop,” said the 36-year-old man making the complaint, according to a recording of the call. The officer on the line responded that there was little the police could do, noting that yelling was not a crime.

The report highlights discrepancies between Justice Alito’s version of events and Baden’s, who provided a text message supporting her account in addition to the documented call to the police.

For instance, the justice told Fox News that his wife hoisted the flag in response to Emily's vulgar insult. However, a text message and the police call, corroborated by Fairfax County authorities, indicate that the name-calling occurred on February 15, weeks after the inverted flag was taken down, as per Mediaite.

The justice elaborated further in an interview with Fox News, explaining that in January 2021, a neighbor displayed a vulgar anti-Trump sign near where children wait for the school bus Martha-Ann complained to the neighbor. “Things escalated and the neighbor put up a sign personally addressing Mrs Alito and blaming her for the January 6th attacks,” tweeted the Fox News reporter who interviewed Alito.

While the Alitos were on a neighborhood walk, “there were words between Mrs Alito and a male at the home with the sign,” the network stated. The justice alleged the man used “vulgar language, ‘including the C-word.’” Following that exchange, “Mrs Alito was distraught and hung the flag upside-down,” the Fox reporter relayed.

After Biden won the election, Emily placed a yard sign on her lawn saying, “Bye Don” on one side and “F**k Trump” on the other. Although while walking her dog, she said Martha-Ann thanked her for taking the sign down. However, it had merely been blown over. Emily informed her the sign would remain.

Matters escalated further when Martha-Ann allegedly spat at Baden’s vehicle during another encounter. Subsequent interactions between the neighbors devolved into verbal altercations, with accusations of derogatory language and aggressive behavior exchanged on both sides. Emily was taken aback when, at the end of 2023, she received a Christmas card from the Alitos with the message, "May you have PEACE."

Netizens react to the upside-down flag controversey

A user tweeted, "Hard to deny that the flag stuff was 100% the work of Mrs Alito."

Another added. "Sucks when "I married a lawyer" isn't as fun as you imagined, isn't it. LOL."

A third said, "She’s a KKKaren!" "Martha Ann writing the minority opinion in the neighborhood debate," read a tweet.

"Jfc. THIS is who is determining our most personal decisions and rights?!?! I just can’t," stated a user.

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