The New York Times reported that a flag displayed during the January 6th attack on the US Capitol was flown outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation home in New Jersey. The flag, known as the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, dates back to the Revolutionary War and has become a symbol for supporters of former President Donald Trump. Photos and interviews with neighbors confirmed the presence of the flag at Alito’s property last summer. Alito and the Supreme Court have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
This discovery comes shortly after another controversial incident involving a display outside Alito’s home in Virginia. Last week, the New York Times published a photo of an inverted American flag raised at Alito’s residence in 2021. Alito explained that his wife had raised the flag in response to a dispute with neighbors. The display of both the inverted US flag and the Appeal to Heaven flag has sparked criticism from Democrats and key GOP senators, who are calling for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to Trump and the Capitol attack.
The Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree Flag, was seen during the Capitol attack, further linking it to Trump supporters. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced backlash for displaying the same flag outside his office before becoming speaker. The flag remains outside his office as of the latest reports. The controversy surrounding the flags outside Alito’s properties has raised concerns about the justice’s impartiality in cases involving Trump and the events of January 6th. As the story continues to develop, updates will be provided as new information emerges.
Evidently, the presence of the Appeal to Heaven flag at Justice Alito’s vacation home indicates a connection to Trump supporters and the events of January 6th, further complicating matters for the Supreme Court justice. Calls for recusal and concerns about bias have been raised by critics, including lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum. The symbolism of the flag, rooted in Revolutionary War history, has taken on new significance in the context of recent political events. The ongoing controversy surrounding the flags displayed outside Alito’s properties underscores the challenges faced by the justice in maintaining impartiality in high-profile cases.
