At Justice Alito’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display
An upside-down flag, adopted by Trump supporters contesting the Biden victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as the Supreme Court was considering an election case.
After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.
One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in Alexandria, Va., according to photographs and interviews with neighbors.
The upside-down flag was aloft on Jan. 17, 2021, the images showed. President Donald J. Trump’s supporters, including some brandishing the same symbol, had rioted at the Capitol a little over a week before. Mr. Biden’s inauguration was three days away. Alarmed neighbors snapped photographs, some of which were recently obtained by The New York Times. Word of the flag filtered back to the court, people who worked there said in interviews.
…
“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Justice Alito said in an emailed statement to The Times. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”
Judicial experts said in interviews that the flag was a clear violation of ethics rules, which seek to avoid even the appearance of bias, and could sow doubt about Justice Alito’s impartiality in cases related to the election and the Capitol riot.
This is why it's so fucking insane Dems keep appointing "moderates" to the SC...
Republicans are putting literal cult members, rapists, and insurrectionists on there.
And the best we get is someone who will legitimately be non biased (except for rich people, both parties pick justices biased towards the wealthy).
It’s also insane that four Democrats voted in favor of Alito’s appointment. Of all the times to reach across the aisle, they do it on the longest lasting decision they’ll make in that position.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Alito_Supreme_Court_nomination
When was the last time a democrat appointed someone to the SC?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson
Katanji Brown Jackson was appointed to the Supremell Court in 2022, by Democratic President Joe Biden. She replaced Stephen Breyer when he retired.
Don't worry Katanji is a black women. Black women are quite used to be completely ignored in society.
Black Women Often Ignored by Social Justice Movements
Like Merrick Garland? Basically the only guy who could have maybe made it through a confirmation hearing with a Republican-controlled Congress when Obama was in office? Someone who couldn't really be attacked on the merits, making it pretty obvious that McConnell's shenanigans were 100% political? Or are Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson moderates?
Ugh, did they really co-opt flying the fucking flag upside down? I deliberately put the dumb little flags that came with my shooting earmuffs on upside down because it works well with my "defend equality" patch... This country is in crisis and the fascists are the reason why.
Putting the flag upside down isn't disrespecting the flag but kneeling during the anthem is. These people are so pathetic.
I was taught in boy scouts that an upside down flag is a symbol to request help.
It actually is a good symbol to represent the state of America. Just not for the reasons they think
My understanding was closer to "signal of dire distress", in that it's a statement more than a request.
But the insurrection was definitely direly distressing, so it works
Totally possible, I wasn't a particularly attentive scout.
Yeah, an upside down flag is a distress signal. If you’re on a ship and have engine trouble, for instance. You can flip your flag upside down, so any other ships who see it will know to check in.
I know people who were thinking of flying it upside down during a part of the Trump years and people said it was a really bad idea because there is a good chance a neighbor might break a window or something to try and assist you.
Republicans are traitors.
In their own words!
Why is anyone even pretending to buy his bullshit. We all have seen the rulings, we’ve all heard his shouting, we’ve all witnessed his willingness to shred, delay, and deal for his party. so let’s drop this did he or didn’t he bullshit and figure out what the fuck to do about it.
Edit- sorry for the rant, not targeted at anyone.
Edit2- except alito
The only thing even remotely surprising about that is that he threw his wife under the bus. And I'm only slightly surprised that he did that rather than just come out and admit it proudly.
Alito’s a whiny bitch, he’d always blame someone else over taking culpability himself.
Sam Alito Says Criticism of Supreme Court Is ‘Unfair’: ‘Practically Nobody Is Defending Us’
I'm remembering some FBI employees who were fired due to having "partisan" opinions about Trump
Imagine thinking disliking a criminal rapist traitor is "partisan."
I think "informed" works better. I'll add quotes
Just in case it wasn't clear, I was criticizing the traitors who did the firings, not you.
Zero surprise but the blatant dedication to fascism of the conservative justices scares the shit out of me.
Fascism is alive and well in America
I gotta get outta here
We still can and should pack the court.
"we" includes the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. I'd love to see it, but...
Maybe I am incorrect, but you only need the Senate to confirm a new justice.
Do you need the house to change the number of justices, I was under the impression you could do it with just the Senate and president
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artIII-S1-8-3/ALDE_00013559/
That was how we went up to nine justices. I assume "Congress" to mean both houses, otherwise they presumably would've said which house. But admittedly I haven't dug into the logistics of that particular action
The House of Representatives is only needed if there is a law on the books that says there can only be 9 Justices on the Supreme Court.
If there is no law, then yeah. Only need the Senate to change the amount of justices.
I would love it if there was a law about it as it would make it slightly harder for bad faith actors to expand the Court on the grounds of "The other side got to do it, so we get to do it too!" Aka Republicans.
Nothing is stopping them from doing it if they take back power, they already have the court they want. We shouldn't be so afraid to use the options afforded to us because we are afraid the otherside will follow in kind. We are on the verge of fascism and we should be doing everything we can to stop it.
I normally call most of you insane and alarmist.
Not going to do that here.
Great another fascist judge. We can do without a couple i suppose
Yes, this, of all things, is the one thing sowing doubt in Justice Alito's impartiality. Before this he's been an absolute model of impartiality. No one has ever been more impartial.
Oh no! An impartial Justice! It's a good thing we have CLEARLY ENFORCEABLE RULES against the Highest Court in the Land making Judgements not based on Law but based on Bias!
1-I think you're confused what impartial means
2-The rules of ethics are not enforceable. The justices are to self-manage and recuse themselves in such situations
The real trouble is, this isn't even just a "situation." "Stop the steal" is based on a fundamental opposition to the rule of law, which is wholly incompatible with being a judge -- let alone a Supreme Court Justice -- at all.