(FeaturedNews.com) – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has called on the Democrat-led Senate to look into reports that a flag linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot was displayed at the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
During an MSNBC interview on “All in with Chris Hayes,” Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the gravity of the situation, labeling it a profound breach of trust and a challenge to the integrity of the Supreme Court and democracy itself. She emphasized that action against Justice Alito shouldn’t be deferred until Democrats possibly secure a majority in the House.
She criticized Justice Alito for seemingly aligning himself with those who stormed the Capitol, noting the significance of his role in upcoming court cases involving January 6 participants. Ocasio-Cortez stressed the urgency of using the powers of governance to defend democracy, particularly through the Senate, advocating for the issuance of subpoenas and the initiation of investigations.
The New York Times reported that another flag associated with the Capitol riot was seen at Alito’s beach house last summer. This “Appeal to Heaven” flag, alongside an inverted American flag seen at his residence shortly after the riot, have stirred controversy. The inverted flag, explained by Alito, was said to be displayed by his wife during a dispute with neighbors, and he was not involved.
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag, which dates back to the Revolutionary War but has recently been adopted by some conservatives and Christian nationalists, was photographed flying at Alito’s New Jersey beach home on various dates in July and September 2023. This flag has gained prominence among those supporting former President Trump’s “Stop the Steal” movement.
Amidst this backdrop, Alito is engaged in two pivotal Supreme Court cases related to the January 6 events. These include a case on Trump’s immunity from prosecution. Despite calls for his recusal, there is no indication that Alito will step down from these cases.
Justice Clarence Thomas, another conservative member of the court, has similarly faced calls to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election, owing to his wife’s involvement in efforts to contest the election results.
This controversy comes as the Supreme Court, facing prolonged scrutiny over undisclosed travels and gifts from affluent benefactors, adopted its first code of ethics in November 2023. However, the new code lacks enforcement mechanisms, continuing debates over judicial independence and integrity.
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