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.

Non-paywall link

  • @givesomefucks
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    14328 days 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).

  • @[email protected]
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    5728 days 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
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      4928 days ago

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

      • @[email protected]
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        4628 days 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

        • nfh
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          1628 days 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

        • @PM_Your_Nudes_Please
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          1228 days 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          428 days 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      3828 days ago

      They declared war on America awhile back and everyone just kept on keeping on. It’s a fucking slow motion train wreck and it’s infuriating.

      WAKE THE FUCK UP! They already started their war.

      • @TubularTittyFrog
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        1928 days ago

        most R voters would rather the country become dicatorship so they can save a few bucks on taxes and watch non-whites suffer

        • @gAlienLifeform
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          1528 days ago

          And I’m pretty sure they’d be willing to compromise on the taxes part of that

        • @[email protected]
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          28 days ago

          Best part is they don’t realize they’ll save nothing on taxes when the orange devalues the USD even further.

          Also, has anyone investigated whether Trump or any of his shell companies bought US bonds during his presidency?

  • gradyp
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    28 days 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

  • Flying Squid
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    4728 days 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.

  • @[email protected]
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    28 days ago

    I’m remembering some FBI employees who were fired due to having “partisan” opinions about Trump

    • @grue
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      3228 days ago

      Imagine thinking disliking a criminal rapist traitor is “partisan.”

        • @grue
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          828 days ago

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

  • @ganksy
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    2028 days ago

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

  • @Phegan
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    828 days ago

    We still can and should pack the court.

    • @spongebue
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      428 days ago

      “we” includes the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. I’d love to see it, but…

      • @Phegan
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        227 days 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

        • @[email protected]
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          127 days 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
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            127 days 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.

        • @spongebue
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          127 days 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

  • @IsThisAnAI
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    428 days ago

    I normally call most of you insane and alarmist.

    Not going to do that here.

  • @Sam_Bass
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    227 days ago

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

  • @MeaanBeaan
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    127 days 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.

  • @[email protected]
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    -2828 days ago

    Oh no! An impartial Justice! It’s a good thing we have CLEARLY ENFORCEABLE RULES against the Highest Court in the Land making Judgements not based on Law but based on Bias!

    • @[email protected]
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      1628 days ago

      1-I think you’re confused what impartial means

      2-The rules of ethics are not enforceable. The justices are to self-manage and recuse themselves in such situations

      • @grue
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        1128 days ago

        The justices are to self-manage and recuse themselves in such situations

        The real trouble is, this isn’t even just a “situation.” “Stop the steal” is based on a fundamental opposition to the rule of law, which is wholly incompatible with being a judge – let alone a Supreme Court Justice – at all.