Justice Samuel Alito’s wife claims upside-down American flag was ‘an international signal of distress’ in 2021, according to Washington Post

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, have been in the news lately due to the display of an inverted American flag at their house. Martha-Ann Alito explained to a reporter from The Washington Post that the flag was meant to be an international signal of distress, and not a political protest. The flag was no longer displayed when the reporter visited the Alitos’ house on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration.

The New York Times also reported on the controversy, stating that the upside-down US flag was raised by Martha-Ann Alito in response to a dispute with neighbors. The dispute allegedly started when a neighbor posted a sign insulting Martha-Ann Alito, leading to the display of the flag. The flag was seen as a symbol for former President Donald Trump’s supporters who believed in widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

In addition to the controversy over the inverted flag, a flag associated with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol was seen flying outside the Alitos’ vacation home. This flag, known as the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, dates back to the Revolutionary War and has become a symbol for supporters of Trump. These revelations have drawn criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, with some calling on Justice Alito to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the Capitol attack.

The news has reignited calls for ethics rules for the Supreme Court, with Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin raising concerns about a member of the highest court displaying such flags at his properties. While some Republican lawmakers have defended Justice Alito, others have criticized his decision to display the flags. The controversy has sparked a debate over the role of Supreme Court justices in remaining impartial and unbiased in their decision-making.

In conclusion, Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann Alito have faced scrutiny over the display of flags at their properties, including an inverted American flag and the “Appeal to Heaven” flag associated with Trump supporters. The controversy has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with calls for Justice Alito to recuse himself from certain cases. The news has reignited discussions about ethics rules for the Supreme Court and the need for justices to uphold their impartiality in their decision-making processes.