Summary

Supreme Court Justice Alito rejects calls to step aside from cases involving Trump and January 6 defendants despite controversy over flags flown at his residences. Flags, including an upside-down American flag and one associated with Trump supporters, raised concerns about impartiality. Alito asserts that his actions do not warrant recusal and claims his wife was responsible for the flags, denying knowledge of their meanings. The Supreme Court is reviewing cases related to Trump's immunity and charges against January 6 rioters. Justices have the discretion to decide on recusal, with impeachment being the only potential consequence for refusal, a historic rarity in American politics.

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For those who read...

Today, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito rejected calls to step aside from Supreme Court cases involving former President Donald Trump and January 6th defendants as news broke that two controversial flags flew above his various residences. 

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In the first incident, neighbors of Alito’s residence say he was flying an upside down American flag following January 6th and the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021. According to the U.S Flag Code, flying an American flag upside down is a “signal of dire distress” and has been used by both Democrats and Republicans to express discontent with American politics and the state of the country as a whole. The following year, a flag linked with conservative Christians groups with the motto “Appeal to Heaven” was seen flying at Alito’s vacation residence. Both flags have been associated with supporters of Trump in protest of the results of the 2020 election.

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In letters to members of congress who have called for him to step aside from these cases because they worry Alito may not be able to remain unbiased, Alito said he does not feel his actions “meet the conditions of recusal” outlined in the court’s new code of ethics. One letter was sent to Senate Democrats, while a separate one was sent to Dems in the House of Representatives. Alito claimed his wife, not him, was responsible for flying the flags and that neither he nor his wife knew the meanings currently associated with the flags.

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The Supreme Court is considering two major cases relating to the events of January 6th 2021. The first one will decide whether Trump has immunity to any charges relating to election interference due to his position as president. The second one deals with various charges against the rioters.

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Supreme Court Justices can decide for themselves whether or not to step aside for certain cases. The only potential punishment for not sitting out a case is impeachment by the House of Representatives or the Senate, which has never happened in American history.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of C2 politics, and we will see you next week!

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Alito rejects calls to quit Supreme Court cases on Trump and Jan. 6 because of flag controversies (AP)

Justice Alito declines to step aside from Trump-related cases over flag spat (NBC)

Alito tells congressional Democrats he won’t recuse over flags (CBS)