Justice Alito rejects recusal calls in 2020 presidential election and January 6 cases amid flag incidents

WASHINGTON, DC: Justice Samuel Alito of the Supreme Court has written letters to members of the House and Senate addressing concerns regarding the flying of an "Appeal to Heaven" flag at a vacation home in New Jersey and an upside-down American flag outside his Virginia home.

In the letters, Alito declared that he would not withdraw from any cases involving the 2020 presidential contest, the Capitol protests on January 6, or former President Trump's immunity case, as per Fox News.

Dick Durbin calls out Justice Samuel Alito to withdraw from cases

Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin, D-Ill, has been among those urging Justice Samuel Alito to withdraw from such cases after it was discovered that an upside-down flag was flown at his Virginia home one week after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

"Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," Durbin stated.

He went on to say, "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President’s immunity in US v Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering."

Justice Samuel Alito denies involvement in Virginia flag incidents

However, in a letter sent on Wednesday, May 29 to Durbin and the other lawmakers, Alito stated that the two incidents "do not meet the conditions for recusal." Regarding the incident in Virginia, he stated, "I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag."

"I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention," Alito continued. "As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused."

Alito said, "My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly" and she "therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly."

"Greatly distressed at the time due, in large part, to a very nasty neighborhood dispute in which I had no involvement," Alito wrote in his letter.

He stated to the lawmakers, "I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events recounted above do not meet the applicable standard for recusal" and that "I am therefore required to reject your request."

Justice Alito claimed his wife was responsible for flagpoles

Alito additionally stated that he had "no involvement in the decision" about the flag "bearing the legend ‘An Appeal to Heaven’ that flew in the backyard of our vacation home in the summer of 2023."

"My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years," said the Supreme Court justice.

When his wife flew the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, according to Alito, "she may have mentioned that it dates back to the American Revolution, and I assumed she was flying it to express a religious and patriotic message." However, he claimed to be unaware of the flag's history.

Internet claims Justice Alito is 'criminal'

As soon as the news went viral on social media, netizens started reacting to it. One wrote, "Duh. These fabricated “controversies” are utterly ridiculous. Any intellectually honest lawyer will tell you as much. It’s a flag, for crying out loud!"

Another user slammed Alito saying, "Here come the MAGA to tell us everything is fine but that NY judge should recuse himself."

A third commentator remarked, "No reason for Alito to recuse himself His Wife has Rights and ALL Women do I'd be angry if my husband didn't support my Right to hang flags in this or any other manner, AND/OR let those rude neighbors win and rub it in."

Another person went on to say, "He is a criminal and should be impeached."

 

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