Supreme Court Justice Alito rejects calls to step aside over flag controversies

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Earlier this month, the New York Times revealed that an upside-down American flag was flown at Justice Alito’s Virginia home following the 2020 presidential election - a symbol used by the “stop the steal” movement supporting Mr Trump’s false claims of election fraud. It was subsequently revealed that an “Appeal to Heaven” flag was flown at Alito’s New Jersey vacation home, a symbol carried by rioters on January 6. open image in gallery Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Martha-Ann Alito share a smile during a ceremonial swearing-in at the East Room of the White House February 1, 2006 In Wednesday’s letter, Justice Alito once again blamed his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, for the incident as he had done in the immediate aftermath of the controversies. “She was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years.” Citing the non-binding Supreme Court code of ethics, Justice Alito argued in the letter that he was not required to disqualify himself because “this event does not meet the applicable standard for recusal.” Justice Alito assured those he had “nothing to do whatsoever” with the flags, and was unaware the upside-down American flag was being flown. He said a man living down the street displayed a sign that directly “attacked” his wife and berated her in front of him – using “the vilest epithet that can be addressed to a woman.” open image in gallery People carry an "Appeal To Heaven" flag as they gather at Independence Mall to support President Donald Trump during a visit to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia “She has made many sacrifices to accommodate my service on the Supreme Court, including the insult of having to endure numerous, loud, obscene, and personally insulting protests in front of our home that continue to this day and now threaten to escalate,” Justice Alito wrote.