Supreme Courtroom Justice Samuel Alito’s spouse beforehand stated the inverted American flag flown on the couple’s home in January 2021 was “an worldwide sign of misery,” The Washington Submit reported Saturday, detailing an encounter throughout that point between the Alitos and a Submit reporter exterior the couple’s dwelling.
The flag was now not displayed when the reporter, Robert Barnes, visited the justice’s home in Alexandria, Virginia, on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration to observe up on a associated tip, the report stated. Martha-Ann Alito demanded the reporter “get off my property” as he got here throughout the couple leaving their dwelling, The Submit stated.
In line with The Submit, Martha-Ann Alito yelled, “It’s a global sign of misery!” as Barnes sought info on the matter earlier than the justice led his spouse to a automotive whereas denying the flag was associated to political protest and saying it stemmed from a neighborhood dispute.
Martha-Ann Alito then shouted: “Ask them what they did!” in obvious reference to the Alitos’ neighbors, earlier than retrieving a novelty flag from the couple’s dwelling and yelling, “There! Is that higher?” after putting it on the flagpole, in line with The Submit.
A spokeswoman for The Submit stated within the article that the newspaper didn’t report on the interplay on the time “as a result of the flag-raising seemed to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, somewhat than the justice, and linked to a dispute together with her neighbors” and that it was unclear it was rooted in politics.
The Submit’s reporting comes because the conservative justice has turn into embroiled in controversy over shows exterior his properties.
The New York Occasions final week printed {a photograph} of the inverted American flag raised on the Alitos’ dwelling in Virginia in 2021. Alito stated the upside-down US flag was raised by his spouse and was a response to a spat with neighbors. The dispute concerned a neighbor who posted an indication saying “F**okay Trump” close to a college bus cease after which an indication attacking his spouse, Alito stated. The justice instructed Fox Information the Alitos obtained into an argument with the neighbor, who used the time period “c**t” at one level. His spouse then flew the inverted flag.
The upside-down flag was an emblem for former President Donald Trump’s supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud within the 2020 presidential election.
The Occasions then reported Wednesday {that a} flag that was on show throughout the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol was seen flying exterior the Alitos’ trip dwelling in New Jersey final summer time. The “Enchantment to Heaven” flag, which dates to the Revolutionary Conflict, has turn into an emblem for supporters of Trump.
The revelations concerning the flags have drawn criticism in Washington, together with from key GOP senators and from Democrats, who’ve referred to as on the justice to recuse himself from circumstances involving Trump and the 2021 assault on the Capitol.
Senate Republican Whip John Thune, one of many contenders vying to switch retiring Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, instructed CNN the flag was a “dangerous choice.”
“I don’t know the way you clarify that,” the South Dakota Republican stated.
The information has additionally reenergized calls on the left for Congress to enact ethics guidelines for the Supreme Courtroom, an effort has been stalled for months.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, who has been a frequent critic of conservative justices, instructed CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Thursday that it “raises a critical query” for somebody on the nation’s highest courtroom to fly such flags at his properties.
Some Republican lawmakers have defended Alito, with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas telling CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday that the “total hoopla is tremendously overstated” and accusing Senate Democrats of attempting to delegitimize the courtroom.
CNN’s John Fritze, Holmes Lybrand and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
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