Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) has called for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election. This demand comes after reports surfaced of an upside-down flag being flown outside Alito’s home following the 2021 Capitol riot, a symbol associated with the “Stop the Steal” campaign that claims former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election.
Durbin believes that the flag displayed outside the conservative justice’s home, allegedly at the request of Alito’s wife, creates the appearance of bias. He stated that Justice Alito should recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the issue of former President Trump’s immunity in the current case before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings in the coming weeks on cases related to the Capitol riot, including whether Trump has immunity from criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the election. Durbin emphasized the need for the Court to regain public trust and for justices to adhere to high ethical standards.
Alito has denied any involvement in the flag’s display, attributing it to his wife’s actions during a dispute with a neighbor. He stated that the flag was briefly displayed in response to insulting language used by the neighbor on yard signs. Durbin pointed to this incident as further justification for the passage of an ethics bill to establish a code of conduct for the Supreme Court.
Overall, Durbin’s call for Justice Alito to recuse himself from election-related cases underscores the ongoing controversy and debate surrounding the Supreme Court’s role in addressing issues stemming from the 2020 election and the Capitol riot.
