A defiant judgment from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito today
refusing Democrats demands that he recuse himself from pending cases
related to January 6th and former President Trump over flags
flown
at his Virginia home in 2021 and New Jersey vacation
house in 2023.
Flags frequently used by mega followers who deny the 2020
election results.
The incident sparking national attention just this month.
Today, Alito repeatedly blamed his wife,
Martha Ann, as solely responsible.
For the controversial displays and distanced himself in a pair
of detailed letters to Congress.
I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of
the flag.
I asked my wife to take it down,
but for several days she refused.
The conservative justice said his wife was greatly distressed over
a very nasty neighborhood dispute,
noting she is a private citizen with full First Amendment
rights.
Alito contends the events do not meet the threshold for
recusal,
so he is duty bound to reject the request.
Democratic leaders have expressed outrage.
It's totally inappropriate. Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are totally
out of control.
Justice Thomas wife Jenny backed efforts to overturn the 2020
election outcome,
but has recently said she and her husband don't discuss
their work with each other.
Alito is among the most conservative jurists on the court,
yet he asserted ignorance that the flags have been associated
with conservative anger.
And January 6th, I was not aware of any connection
between this historic flag and the Stop the Steel movement.
And neither was my wife.
Today, 18 Democrats from the House Judiciary Committee signed a
letter to Chief Justice Roberts asking him if these events
violate the courts code of conduct adopted last November and
urging him to enforce that code.
Lester.