U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is facing another controversy involving a flag for the second time in recent weeks. This time, the flag in question has become a symbol associated with the Christian nationalist movement and the false belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
According to The New York Times, an “Appeal to Heaven” flag was seen flying outside Alito’s vacation home in New Jersey last summer. The flag, featuring a green pine tree on a white background, appeared in multiple photos taken in July and September 2023.
Earlier, The Times reported that an upside-down American flag—a distress signal—had been displayed outside Alito’s home in Alexandria, Virginia, less than two weeks after the violent January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
An appeal to heaven flag (Via Ben Kane/Shutterstock)
During the Capitol attack, some rioters carried either the inverted American flag or the “Appeal to Heaven” flag.
These revelations have raised concerns about Alito’s ability to remain impartial and make fair decisions on cases currently before the Supreme Court that involve the January 6 attackers and Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results in 2020. Alito has not publicly commented on the presence of the flag at his summer residence.
