A flag similar to one waved during the 6th January 2021 attack on the US Capitol appeared outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation in New Jersey on Wednesday. The flag had a green evergreen tree drawn on a white background and the words “An Appeal to Heaven” at the top.
Justice Alito, along with the rest of the Supreme Court, has yet to provide any comment on the same. The flag was similar to the Pine Tree flag used during the American Revolutionary Flag and is contemporarily associated with a move towards a more Christian-minded government, and has become a symbol showing support towards former President Donald Trump.
This is the second incident within several weeks over questionable displays outside the Supreme Court Judge’s property. Previously, in 2021, an inverted American flag was raised outside Justice Alito’s home, who explained that the flag was raised by his wife in response to an argument with their neighbours.
Both flags made their appearance during the 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Consequently, the incident has led to criticism from both the Democratic and Republican parties; the latter advocated the judge recuse himself from cases concerning both the 2021 Capitol attack and Trump.
Mounting pressure over Justice Alito’s recusal
In a similar setting last year, House Speaker Mike Johnson also encountered backlash for keeping the same Appeal to Heaven flag outside his office, which continues to remain there as of the moment. The flag choices become significant since cases concerning both the 2021 Capitol attack and the incoming elections are still ongoing, including the charges of election subversion held against the former President, Trump.
Justice Alito has repeatedly faced criticism over the same. Several leaders from the Democrats call for him to recuse himself from said cases, given the flags showcase his political leanings, making him “unfit to serve” given his position as Judge of the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, some Republican lawmakers defended Justice Alito on Wednesday, claiming that the incident was overexaggerated, with Senate Democrats attempting to delegitimise the court.
