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At Justice Alito’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
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An upside-down flag, adopted by Trump supporters contesting the Biden victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as the Supreme Court was considering an election case.

After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.

One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in Alexandria, Va., according to photographs and interviews with neighbors.

The upside-down flag was aloft on Jan. 17, 2021, the images showed. President Donald J. Trump’s supporters, including some brandishing the same symbol, had rioted at the Capitol a little over a week before. Mr. Biden’s inauguration was three days away. Alarmed neighbors snapped photographs, some of which were recently obtained by The New York Times. Word of the flag filtered back to the court, people who worked there said in interviews.

…

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Justice Alito said in an emailed statement to The Times. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”

Judicial experts said in interviews that the flag was a clear violation of ethics rules, which seek to avoid even the appearance of bias, and could sow doubt about Justice Alito’s impartiality in cases related to the election and the Capitol riot.

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[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 142 points 7 months ago

This is why it's so fucking insane Dems keep appointing "moderates" to the SC...

Republicans are putting literal cult members, rapists, and insurrectionists on there.

And the best we get is someone who will legitimately be non biased (except for rich people, both parties pick justices biased towards the wealthy).

[-] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 30 points 7 months ago

It’s also insane that four Democrats voted in favor of Alito’s appointment. Of all the times to reach across the aisle, they do it on the longest lasting decision they’ll make in that position.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Alito_Supreme_Court_nomination

[-] Plastic_Ramses@lemmy.world -1 points 7 months ago

When was the last time a democrat appointed someone to the SC?

[-] ZombieMantis@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson

Katanji Brown Jackson was appointed to the Supremell Court in 2022, by Democratic President Joe Biden. She replaced Stephen Breyer when he retired.

[-] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one -1 points 7 months ago

Don't worry Katanji is a black women. Black women are quite used to be completely ignored in society.

Black Women Often Ignored by Social Justice Movements

[-] spongebue@lemmy.world -2 points 7 months ago

Like Merrick Garland? Basically the only guy who could have maybe made it through a confirmation hearing with a Republican-controlled Congress when Obama was in office? Someone who couldn't really be attacked on the merits, making it pretty obvious that McConnell's shenanigans were 100% political? Or are Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson moderates?

[-] Curiousfur@yiffit.net 57 points 7 months ago

Ugh, did they really co-opt flying the fucking flag upside down? I deliberately put the dumb little flags that came with my shooting earmuffs on upside down because it works well with my "defend equality" patch... This country is in crisis and the fascists are the reason why.

[-] cooljacob204@kbin.social 49 points 7 months ago

Putting the flag upside down isn't disrespecting the flag but kneeling during the anthem is. These people are so pathetic.

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 46 points 7 months ago

I was taught in boy scouts that an upside down flag is a symbol to request help.

It actually is a good symbol to represent the state of America. Just not for the reasons they think

[-] nickhammes@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago

My understanding was closer to "signal of dire distress", in that it's a statement more than a request.

But the insurrection was definitely direly distressing, so it works

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

Totally possible, I wasn't a particularly attentive scout.

[-] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago

Yeah, an upside down flag is a distress signal. If you’re on a ship and have engine trouble, for instance. You can flip your flag upside down, so any other ships who see it will know to check in.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

I know people who were thinking of flying it upside down during a part of the Trump years and people said it was a really bad idea because there is a good chance a neighbor might break a window or something to try and assist you.

[-] eran_morad@lemmy.world 57 points 7 months ago

Republicans are traitors.

[-] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 65 points 7 months ago

In their own words!

[-] 4grams@awful.systems 50 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Why is anyone even pretending to buy his bullshit. We all have seen the rulings, we’ve all heard his shouting, we’ve all witnessed his willingness to shred, delay, and deal for his party. so let’s drop this did he or didn’t he bullshit and figure out what the fuck to do about it.

Edit- sorry for the rant, not targeted at anyone.

Edit2- except alito

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 47 points 7 months ago

The only thing even remotely surprising about that is that he threw his wife under the bus. And I'm only slightly surprised that he did that rather than just come out and admit it proudly.

[-] worldwidewave@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago

Alito’s a whiny bitch, he’d always blame someone else over taking culpability himself.

Sam Alito Says Criticism of Supreme Court Is ‘Unfair’: ‘Practically Nobody Is Defending Us’

[-] BossDj@lemm.ee 36 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I'm remembering some FBI employees who were fired due to having "partisan" opinions about Trump

[-] grue@lemmy.world 32 points 7 months ago

Imagine thinking disliking a criminal rapist traitor is "partisan."

[-] BossDj@lemm.ee 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I think "informed" works better. I'll add quotes

[-] grue@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

Just in case it wasn't clear, I was criticizing the traitors who did the firings, not you.

[-] ganksy@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

Zero surprise but the blatant dedication to fascism of the conservative justices scares the shit out of me.

[-] Gingerlegs@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago

I gotta get outta here

[-] Philharmonic3@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago

Fascism is alive and well in America

[-] Phegan@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

We still can and should pack the court.

[-] spongebue@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

"we" includes the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. I'd love to see it, but...

[-] Phegan@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Maybe I am incorrect, but you only need the Senate to confirm a new justice.

Do you need the house to change the number of justices, I was under the impression you could do it with just the Senate and president

[-] spongebue@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artIII-S1-8-3/ALDE_00013559/

In 1869, under a new presidential administration, Congress expanded the Court to include nine Justices.11 The 1869 legislation was the last time Congress changed the size of the Supreme Court.

That was how we went up to nine justices. I assume "Congress" to mean both houses, otherwise they presumably would've said which house. But admittedly I haven't dug into the logistics of that particular action

[-] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 1 points 7 months ago

The House of Representatives is only needed if there is a law on the books that says there can only be 9 Justices on the Supreme Court.

If there is no law, then yeah. Only need the Senate to change the amount of justices.

I would love it if there was a law about it as it would make it slightly harder for bad faith actors to expand the Court on the grounds of "The other side got to do it, so we get to do it too!" Aka Republicans.

[-] Phegan@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Nothing is stopping them from doing it if they take back power, they already have the court they want. We shouldn't be so afraid to use the options afforded to us because we are afraid the otherside will follow in kind. We are on the verge of fascism and we should be doing everything we can to stop it.

[-] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

I normally call most of you insane and alarmist.

Not going to do that here.

[-] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Great another fascist judge. We can do without a couple i suppose

[-] MeaanBeaan@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Yes, this, of all things, is the one thing sowing doubt in Justice Alito's impartiality. Before this he's been an absolute model of impartiality. No one has ever been more impartial.

this post was submitted on 17 May 2024
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