By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has declined to recuse himself from critical election related cases involving former President Donald Trump, despite controversy over flags displayed outside his residences. The flags, an upside down U.S. flag and an "Appeal to Heaven" flag, were flown by his wife, Martha Alito. These flags, associated with the January 6 Capitol riot and Trump's supporters, were displayed at their Virginia and New Jersey homes.
Justice Alito clarified in a letter to Democratic senators that his wife is responsible for flying the flags, and he was not involved. He stated that the upside down U.S. flag was raised by his wife following a neighborhood dispute in January 2021, shortly after the Capitol riot. Alito insisted he had no role in this and had asked his wife to remove the flag once he became aware of it.
The "Appeal to Heaven" flag, a historical Revolutionary War symbol, was displayed outside their holiday home in 2023. It has been repurposed by some groups to represent Christian nationalism. Alito explained that his wife flies various themed flags, including this one, at their home.
Following the flag controversy, Senators Richard Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse requested that Justice Alito step aside from key cases involving former President Donald Trump and Capitol rioters. They argued that the flag incidents cast doubt on his impartiality. However, Alito asserted that the incidents did not warrant his recusal, citing the constitutional clause that leaves such decisions to the discretion of the justices themselves.