Supreme Court Justice Alito's Vacation Home: Controversial Flag Sighting
A flag linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack was reportedly flown outside the vacation residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in New Jersey, as detailed in a recent New York Times report.
During the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, a flag was flown outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation home in New Jersey. According to a report in the New York Times on Wednesday, the flag displayed was the “Appeal to Heaven” flag.
The Times cited photographs and interviews with neighbors, revealing that the flag was seen on Alito's property last summer. This flag, dating back to the Revolutionary War, has now also become a symbol for supporters of former President Donald Trump. It is white with a green evergreen tree and the words “An Appeal to Heaven” at the top.
Alito and the Supreme Court have not yet commented on the issue.
This is the second recent incident involving a contentious display near Alito's home. Last week, The New York Times shared a photo of an upside-down American flag outside Alito's Virginia residence in 2021. Alito explained that his wife raised the flag in response to a disagreement with their neighbors.
The "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen in the left side of this photo from January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC, shortly before protestors stormed the US Capitol.
The "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen in the left side of this photo from January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC, shortly before protestors stormed the US Capitol.
Critics, including Democrats and key GOP senators, have criticized the episode, calling for the justice to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the 2021 attack on the Capitol.
The Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree flag, was seen during the attack on the Capitol, much like the inverted US flag.
House Speaker Mike Johnson received criticism for displaying the same flag outside his office last year before taking on his leadership role. As of Wednesday, the Appeal to Heaven flag is still displayed outside his office.
Johnson explained to CNN that he always flies George Washington's flag because it dates back to the founder's era. He clarified that it has no connection to the "stop the steal" protests.
An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside Speaker Mike Johnson's personal office in the Cannon House Office Buiding on Wednesday, May 22.
An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside Speaker Mike Johnson's personal office in the Cannon House Office Buiding on Wednesday, May 22.
The Alitos’ choice of flags is getting noticed because there are important cases before the high court related to the election and the attack on the US Capitol. One key question is whether Trump can be immune from federal charges related to election subversion.
A different case involves a defendant from January 6 who is contesting an obstruction charge brought by federal prosecutors for his involvement in the attack.
This story has been revised with new updates.
Editor's P/S:
The display of contentious flags outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's homes has sparked controversy and raised concerns about his impartiality. The "Appeal to Heaven" flag, a symbol of the Revolutionary War, has been adopted by supporters of former President Donald Trump and has been seen at both the Capitol attack and outside Alito's New Jersey vacation home. The upside-down American flag, flown outside Alito's Virginia residence, is also a symbol of protest. These incidents have led to calls for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to Trump and the Capitol attack, as his choice of flags may indicate a bias.
The use of the "Appeal to Heaven" flag by some supporters of Trump raises questions about the flag's historical significance and its current political implications. While the flag was originally flown during the Revolutionary War, it has been co-opted by those who claim the 2020 election was stolen. This has led to concerns that the flag is being used to promote anti-democratic sentiments and undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process. The display of these flags outside Alito's homes has further heightened concerns about the erosion of trust in the judiciary and the potential for political bias to influence judicial decisions.
