- Home
- Efforts...
Efforts to censure Samuel Alito over Jan. 6 flag controversy gain traction in Congress
A resolution to censure Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito over reports of flags with connections to the Jan. 6 riot flying at his properties is picking up support from House Democrats.
Why it matters:The measure is unlikely to get a vote in the Republican-controlled chamber, but lawmakers who have signed on say it's a way to send a message of disapproval across branches of government.
The latest:A censure resolution introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) on Tuesday has picked up a dozen Democratic co-sponsors, including four on Thursday.
- The five-page measure accuses Alito of violating Supreme Court recusal and ethics standards and "calling the impartiality of the Supreme Court ... into question by continuing to participate in cases in which his prior public conduct could be reasonably interpreted to demonstrate bias."
- A Supreme Court spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What's happening:Alito has faced bipartisan criticism over a New York Times report that an inverted flag, a symbol of the "Stop the Steal" movement, flew outside his Virginia home in the weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
- Alito said he had "no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag" and that it was "briefly placed" by his wife in response to a neighbor's "objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."
- A second New York Times report revealed that an "Appeal to Heaven" flag, a revolutionary war symbol adopted by right-wing groups and Jan. 6 rioters, flew at his New Jersey vacation home last year.
State of play:A growing number of Democrats are demanding Alito recuse himself from a pair of cases before the court related to Jan. 6.
- On Thursday, after news of the second flag broke, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) joined the chorus.
- Jeffries said Alito "definitively needs to recuse himself from any matter ... that has to do with the Jan. 6 violent insurrection."
What they're saying: Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), who joined Cohen's resolution Thursday, said it is "not something I would normally sign onto" as a lawyer who believes judges should police themselves, but the flag controversy "is really egregious."
- "We have to say something," he told Axios in an interview.
- "When a Supreme Court Justice ... fails to meet even the most basic ethical standards, it is a grave concern and demands our quick attention and accountability," said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), another co-sponsor.
- Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios: "The code of conduct for US judges is clear: An appearance of impropriety occurs when reasonable minds ... would conclude that a judge's impartiality is impaired."
Reality check:The measure is all but certain not to get a vote in the Republican-controlled House.
- Unlike measures to censure members of Congress, it cannot be forced to a vote.
- Impeachment is also likely out of the question, said Peters, adding, "I don't think that's going to happen … I'm good enough at math to know that's not likely."
Yes, but:Democrats are using the controversy to try to breathe new life into their stalled efforts to pass ethics legislation for Supreme Court justices – even after the court adopted its own code of ethics.
- "Justice Roberts must do the hard work of leading and restore some faith in the Court. He has been silent too long about the ethics crisis," said Balint.
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/efforts-to-censure-samuel-alito-over-jan-6-flag-controversy-gain-traction-in-congress/ar-BB1n0Hc9?ocid=00000000
Related
Filipina graduates from prestigious US Naval Academy with high honors
ANNAPOLIS – The Philippine Navy’s newest ensign, Kris Otiong, has graduated from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland – whose alumni include former President Jimmy Carter and the late Senator John McCain. Otiong is the latest addition to the prestigious list of Filipino USNA graduates, underscoring the enduring and robust relationship between the United States and the Philippines. The USNA, a top-rated public college in...
NewsDonald Trump's Fortunes Reversed in Two Battleground States
The former president is now marginally behind President Joe Biden in Wisconsin and Michigan.
NewsHistory Erased Just How Bad Europeans Smelled
As they say, history is written by the victors. This gives them a lot of latitude to adjust the details that aren’t exactly complimentary. You can just pump out a bunch of books that say you were, of course, always fighting for a good reason wh
News'Nightmare' for Liberals? Supreme Court Indicates Interest in Key Climate Change Case
'Nightmare' for Liberals? Supreme Court Indicates Interest in Key Climate Change Case
NewsScientists think they've finally solved the decades-long mystery of why our Milky Way galaxy is so rare
Spiral galaxies like the Milky Way are surprisingly rare, and astronomers have wondered why for years. Now, they may have an answer.
NewsKellyanne Conway's Donald Trump Crowd Size Claim Sparks Jokes, Pushback
Trump hosted a roundtable discussion at a Black church in Michigan on Saturday as he seeks to win over Black voters ahead of this year's election.
NewsHow not to show solidarity with the Palestinian people
Malala Yousafzai has spoken up on Gaza, but aligned herself with those complicit in its destruction. She can do better.
NewsTakeaways from the campaigning to win over rural voters in swing-state North Carolina
OXFORD, N.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have their sights on a handful of battleground states in the White House race, and North Carolina is one of them. Rural voters in particular will play an important role for both campaigns, but the candidates will have to overcome voter indifference, fatigue and even disgust. Both Democrats and Republicans hope face-to-face contact will help them make their case. In places like Granville...
News