Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s explanation for a MAGA symbol displayed at his residence fell apart under scrutiny, with critics dismissing his attempt to shift blame onto his wife.
Federal courts insider Joyce Vance addressed the controversy on her Civil Discourse Substack blog, revealing that an upside-down flag associated with the ‘Stop the Steal’ movement adorned Justice Alito’s yard during a critical period of the Supreme Court’s deliberations.
“Here’s what I did not anticipate: that in January of 2021—for several days around January 17th, to be precise, both after the insurrection on the sixth and while the Supreme Court was still considering whether to hear an election-related case—the inverted flag associated with the ‘Stop the Steal’ movement was flying on a flagpole on Justice Alito’s lawn,” Vance revealed.
Vance questioned Alito’s assertion that his wife was responsible, highlighting the implausibility of a sitting Justice failing to address such a politically charged display promptly.
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“We know it’s true because Justice Alito blamed his wife when asked,” the ex-prosecutor wrote. “As though a sitting Supreme Court Justice, upon pulling up to his home and seeing the flag, wouldn’t immediately take it down and say, ‘Honey, I understand your feelings, but as a Justice on the United States Supreme Court, I must avoid even the appearance of impropriety, and that flag conveys a political sentiment that is an affront to the rule of law I’m sworn to uphold, especially after rioters carrying it swarmed the Capitol a week and a half ago.'”
Drawing from her personal experiences with judicial families, Vance emphasized their understanding of impartiality, suggesting that none would allow such a political symbol on their property.
“My Father-in-Law was a federal judge, my Husband was a state court judge, and I have a number of close friends on the bench. I am certain that none of their spouses or other family members would have even considered placing a political symbol like this in their front yard because they would have understood the rules, just like I did,” Vance added.
Alito’s attempt to deflect accountability for the MAGA symbol’s presence underscores concerns about judicial integrity and impartiality.
