Alito faces growing flak from Democrats over 2nd flag controversy

May 24, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is under fire from Democratic lawmakers who are stoking controversy over stories related to flags flown at the justice’s home.

According to Axios, the first controversy arose after the New York Times reported that an upside down American flag was hung outside Alito’s home in the weeks following the Jan 6 2021 protest and riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Critics of the conservative justice, have claimed that the upside-down flag is a symbol of protestors who question the reputability of the 2020 election. Alito told the New York Times that he had “no involvement” with the upside-down flag and that it was placed by his wife in response to a dispute with a neighbor.

The Supreme Court Justice is facing further flag-related controversy after it was reported that a Revolutionary War era “Appeal to Heaven” flag was displayed at Alito’s New Jersey beach house. Critics claim the historic flag represents a form of what they call “Christian Nationalism.”

Alito is accused of holding “insurrectionist” and “right wing” sympathies by Democratic critics who are pressuring the justice to recuse himself from several Jan 6 cases.

Flying the American flag upside-down has long been understood as a signal of distress rather than a political statement. Likewise, the “Appeal to Heaven” flag stemmed from the Founders’ belief that God would deliver them from tyranny.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told the Associated Press, “I have always used that flag for as long as I can remember, because I was so enamored with the fact that Washington used it. The Appeal to Heaven flag is a critical, important part of American history. It’s something that I’ve always revered since I’ve been a young man.”

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