The Washington Post has revealed that it knew about an upside-down American flag flown outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s Virginia home in January 2021 but chose not to report it at the time. The flag, which has historical ties to the Revolutionary War, has recently been linked to Christian nationalism and the January 6 Capitol riot. Martha-Ann Alito, the justice’s wife, claimed the flag was a signal of distress in response to a neighborhood dispute. A WaPo reporter visited the Alito residence on Biden’s inauguration day and had a tense encounter with the couple. The New York Times highlighted the flag's presence, sparking renewed controversy and calls from Democratic lawmakers for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and January 6. Chief Justice Roberts is also facing pressure to address the Supreme Court’s ethics code. Critics argue that the media's portrayal of the flag as provocative is a coordinated effort to undermine Alito, while supporters defend the flag's historical significance. The incident has intensified debates over Supreme Court ethics and the role of the media in shaping public perception.
Elie Mystal Decries The 'Disproportional Craziness' Of Alito's Claim Wife Responded To Nasty Neighbors With Upside Down Flag https://t.co/xmoP3Yxi9H
Sitting federal judge hits Justice Alito for eroding ‘trust,’ taking ‘sides’ after upside-down flag controversy https://t.co/hycU1Vs8O9 https://t.co/1ZlWGwGSBa
(VIDEO) Leftists Call for Justice Alito to Recuse Himself or be Disqualified From ALL J6 Cases and 2020 Election Cases Over Upside Down American Flag After 2020 Election via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/gznNcFXC1s
Growing Chorus of Dems Call for ‘Prince of Darkness’ Alito’s Recusal, Impeachment | @ryanamills77 https://t.co/PHSZRiDOkG
FALSE FLAG: Judge Michael Ponsor's Blatant Hypocrisy. So much irony that a sitting federal judge would attack Justice Alito for eroding 'trust,' taking 'sides' after flag controversy by eroding 'trust' and 'taking sides' himself. https://t.co/XwHvl7KqJ3
Clarence Page writes: "As if suspicions, partisan and otherwise, have not dealt enough blows to our criminal justice system in recent years, along comes Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s flag flap." https://t.co/cenUuEgcPo
ICYMI: From Friday, @emilybazelon with analysis on the ethics of the Supreme Court, including the upside-down flag flown at Justice Alito's home after the Jan. 6 insurrection -- a subject the Court has since considered. https://t.co/5Ust46aqFe
Some interesting background on the American Revolution's pine tree flags that the Left are now using as another excuse to destroy the Supreme Court and constitutional government. https://t.co/fGuzQmIEU9 https://t.co/ivYVW7llOT
An Appeal to Heaven flag at the Martha’s Vineyard 2022 4th of July parade? How could Justice Alito do this?? https://t.co/1vBil1HXK0
Some interesting background on the American Revolution's pine tree flags that the Left are now excusing as another excuse to destroy the Supreme Court and constitutional government. https://t.co/fGuzQmIEU9 https://t.co/n02UC0rp3K
There is a certain irony in Judge Michael Ponsor, a sitting senior status judge, criticizing Justice Alito for the "dumb" and "improper" act of flying flags with political implications. https://t.co/VCnOxoQrIk Ponsor responds by writing an accusatory column supporting critics...
Two top Senate Democrats sent a letter to Chief Justice #JohnRoberts urging him to pressure Supreme Court Justice #SamuelAlito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and the #Jan6, 2021, security breach at the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/l6bgR2KvSo
OF COURSE: Justice Alito recusal calls are a ‘coordinated’ left-wing campaign: ‘Like clockwork’ https://t.co/JjV0UgHu6H via @dcexaminer
Liberal Media Outlet Pressed Justice Alito For Answers In Flag Incident ... Three Years After Getting Them https://t.co/IYL4sjW6zG
Sitting federal judge hits Justice Alito for eroding 'trust,' taking 'sides' after flag controversy https://t.co/LhFWBHMuo0
An Appeal To Heaven Garden Flag https://t.co/UaaILZZMAI via @getongab
Rep. Madeleine Dean in a new "The Hill Sunday" interview blasted Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for blaming his wife for displaying the upside-down flag outside his home in the days following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. https://t.co/HeoVLIVQXw
On Saturday, the Washington Post revealed that it had known about the Alito upside-down flag but had not reported it. The revelation raises many questions. I went into them over at Law Dork. https://t.co/D5Jgk9a2yE
Opinion by Jennifer Rubin: Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito’s misconduct, if unaddressed, would make the 2024 election a referendum on the court. https://t.co/DHYJWOtwcu
Durbin, Whitehouse Seek Meeting With Chief Justice Roberts As They Continue to Attack Alito https://t.co/OIr8Xs4Ftx
Truly remarkable!Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years https://t.co/oSs026vgJ3
Dem Sens. Richard Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse wrote letter to Chief Justice John Roberts urging him to take steps to ensure Alito recuses himself from J6 cases, including Trump’s claim he is immune from criminal prosecution for official acts as president https://t.co/jRcPiVIg2K
The flag dates back to the Revolutionary War, but in more recent years it has become associated with Christian nationalism and support for Trump. https://t.co/WvYve9GRzC
I’d buy this flag explanation if the Alito’s hadn’t ALSO flown the American flag upside down in solidarity with “stop the steal”. And I’d be less worried overall about the SC, if Thomas’s wife hadn’t been texting Trump’s COS on Jan 6 urging him to coup harder. Cumulative context. https://t.co/YF4CSSVRAd
Martha-Ann Alito claimed in 2021 that upside-down flag was ‘signal of distress’: Report https://t.co/QXPkpIDQDt
Upside-Down US Flag Outside Supreme Court Judge’s Homes Stirs Major Controversy, Here’s Why #USA #Flag #SupremeCourt https://t.co/OVBKfTIijH
More House Democrats joined a resolution by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to censure Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after The New York Times reported that an upside-down American flag was flown outside Alito's Virginia home after the 2020 election. MORE: https://t.co/ZxISvm26xV https://t.co/B2eyrSF3qH
Alito’s beach house displayed ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, a ‘provocative symbol,’ report says https://t.co/vGAy5d4Col
The decision to not report on the Alito flag is appalling and it would be great if we got a full accounting of how such a democracy dies in darkness decision was made. This is why newspapers like The Washington Post used to have ombudsman, for situations just like this. https://t.co/GnCl25wth6
Washington Post protected Alitos since extended period of flag incident https://t.co/sHdr1ayRNR
The Washington Post's decision not to report on the Alito flag story multiple times since 2021, even as SCOTUS ethics stories came out, raises many questions (@chrisgeidner / Law Dork) https://t.co/6jwLK6KEwW https://t.co/ejAZm3v4lH
Must read piece from @chrisgeidner ⤵️ about the impact of the @washingtonpost hiding this Alito flag story from the public. https://t.co/rFMK91lLa2 https://t.co/4QrjvX28U1
How is the pine tree flag theory even supposed to work? Is the idea that Samuel Alito — of all people! — had never seen a historical flag until a few people on Jan 6 flew it and then he decided that he would too?
WaPo Court reporter found out about upsdie down Alito flag in Jan 2021 https://t.co/yS2HPj0hsW
Turns out, the Washington Post knew in 2021 that the upside down flag flying at Samuel Alito’s house was due to a neighborhood dispute So when will the media correct their stories and Senate Democrats apologize? Probably any minute now https://t.co/AA2Reec5e2
I’m exhausted with the “debate” over the Pine Tree/Appeal to Heaven flag. Alito’s loudest defenders are 100% sure this is all nonsense. The loudest critics are 100% sure it was intended as a Christian-Nationalist-MAGA thing. None of them know. I suspect the truth is closer to…
Strong and valid criticism of WaPo’s SCOTUS coverage. @chrisgeidner is right. WaPo suppressed the Alito story — fundamentally a political story, about supporting Trump — while Alito was the 5th vote for the majority in the Trump 14thA/Colorado ballot case. That’s Bad News. https://t.co/THp8BpHUlZ
NEW LAW DORK: Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years. This raises many questions, several relating to the fact that the Post, at least passively, made the decision not to reveal this news many times since 2021. https://t.co/AGohRPW1FT
This is pretty damn unsettling: Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years, by @chrisgeidner https://t.co/BGCvRkV3MA
Justice Samuel Alito's flag flying "foolish" and "dumb"—Federal judge https://t.co/tYuvZqOXMc https://t.co/1s47FqqtCr
"Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years Saturday's report raises many questions, several relating to the fact that the Post, at least passively, made the decision not to reveal this news many times since 2021." https://t.co/3V9ZvfECXp
"On Jan. 20, 2021 — the day of Biden’s inauguration, which the Alitos did not attend — Barnes went to their home to follow up on the tip about the flag... Martha-Ann Alito was visibly upset by his presence, demanding that he 'get off my property.'" https://t.co/Me2N7P21J5
AOC Demands To Know Where Alito Bought An Upside-Down U.S. Flag https://t.co/HXtHCc4yvp https://t.co/8N8pfW8lyR
WaPo Passed on the Highly Controversial Alito Flag Incident at the Time https://t.co/4EUPR3ncz6
Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years, by @chrisgeidner https://t.co/i20NLFqIOK
I cannot get over how many times in recent years the Washington Post had to decide *not* to share that they knew the Alito household flew an upside-down flag in the immediate aftermath of Jan 6 before reporting it today. https://t.co/D5Jgk9a2yE
New context for Justice Alito's resistance to ethics codes for #SCOTUS: he knew for years that WaPo knew his wife flew US flag upside down in 1/21 and press might report it, leading to recusal calls. https://t.co/MM7RJa2vqX
Saturday's Washington Post report raises many questions — several relating to the fact that the Post, at least passively, made the decision not to reveal the (first) Alito flag story many times since 2021. https://t.co/D5Jgk9a2yE
A sitting federal judge in Massachusetts appointed by Clinton took off his robe, climbed into the political arena, and wrote a political hit piece in the New York Times publicly criticizing Justice Alito while he’s deciding relevant pending cases. Senior Judge Michael Ponsor… https://t.co/cUApGRbblF
This is how democracy dies. https://t.co/4noLrxVicR
I don’t think the flag makes Alito a fascist. I find it more troubling that he allowed an American flag to be flown upside-down at his house. Like, there’s no debate over the historical origin of that. It’s an overt political statement and “my wife did it” is an awful excuse.
Absolutely chilling threats against SCOTUS coming in from Congressional Democrats, based on invented “ethics” “scandals.” There is no credibility or corruption crisis at SCOTUS. The only crisis is that leftists aren’t getting their desired outcomes. That’s it. https://t.co/umxSdXXnxc
Martha-Ann Alito once said the upside-down American flag outside their Virginia home after the Jan. 6 insurrection was “an international signal of distress.” https://t.co/TShbF4QgAt
Conservatives scoff at attempt to take colonial-era flag and connect Justice Alito to 'MAGA battle flag' https://t.co/uvb6IfM0ll
It's almost too ironic that #Alito would fly a #Jan6 flag calling for heavenly intervention because he felt the #RuleofLaw, which he's supposed to uphold, was insufficient. He has no business with cases on the 2020 election—or on the separation of church & state. More here 👇 https://t.co/GaAVNpabyi
In January 2021, Martha-Ann Alito said the flag, a symbol embraced by election deniers, was raised outside her home in response to a neighborhood dispute. https://t.co/Kq3lO9FfwD
FALSE FLAG: The Most Dangerous Part Of The NYT Alito Flag Meltdown Is The Politicization Of Patriotism. The New York Times is convinced an iconic banner of American patriotism is an emblem of extremism. It isn’t and they knew it... https://t.co/QW4aWcNpHS
“The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice,&connected 2 a dispute with her neighbors…was not clear then that the argument was rooted in politics” https://t.co/hIGlyCJL8Q
New: Wapo Reporter Got in Screaming Confrontation with Alito’s Wife Over Flag – But Didn’t Report It https://t.co/t7uvEuVVdU
So the Washington Post blew the Alito upside-down flag story in January 2021. https://t.co/0kIFP6H2y1 https://t.co/42JrcrlQrW
‘Democracy dies in darkness’… and in this case the darkness was provided by the Washington Post itself. https://t.co/FeQXrFeYSf
The Washington Post confirmed the account of Justice Alito on the flag was what its own reporter found in 2021. https://t.co/xzZU9HqrZr It was a dispute with neighbors and the action of Mrs. Alito. Yet, Democrats are still calling for his recusal and meetings with Roberts...
Elie Mystal brings out the race card while discussing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's explanation of the upside-down American flag seen flying outside his home in the days following Jan. 6 “I am a Black man on television. When I go out on the street, I’ve got some… https://t.co/dJCXaBDBzy
PRO TIP: Flying an upside down American flag at the home of a U.S. Supreme Court justice -especially days after an an attempted coup- is news no matter who actually ran it up the flagpole. NOT reporting that story for over three years is journalism malpractice.
‘Alito harmed our democracy’: Watchdog demands SCOTUS create ethics code ‘enforcement mechanism’ to investigate ‘crisis’ after justice flew far-right conspiracy theory flags https://t.co/Hx8PkrOI4N
The Washpost knew about the Alito flag as early as Biden’s Inauguration Day in 2021, and even got a statement from him. But WP editors chose not to publish a word about it until the NYT beat them on their own story, a few days ago. https://t.co/6EKTiZfEwH https://t.co/Bkf1985GmH
Two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee ask to meet with Chief Justice John Roberts to address "the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis." https://t.co/e23dFYw9UW
Retired Judge Ponsor: “Courts work because people trust judges. Taking sides in this way erodes that trust. In four decades as a federal judge, I have known scores, possibly hundreds, of federal trial and appellate judges pretty well. I can’t think of a single one, no matter who…
Washington Post Had—But Passed—On Blockbuster Alito Flag Story In 2021 https://t.co/W5gNAPzyOj https://t.co/X3C4FlQqFa
The Washington Post says it knew about the upside-down US flag at Justice Alito's house in 2021 but did not report it as it didn't seem related to politics (Washington Post) https://t.co/Rngm3eEbhy https://t.co/DXbufVKWFE
The Washington Post sitting on a blockbuster story to be nice to the wife of a Supreme Court Justice is kinda how we got into this mess in the first place https://t.co/hcgpuOlcy8
The Washington Post knew back in January 2021 about the upside-down American flag flying at the Alitos’ house — but didn't report it https://t.co/4qjVGYeODQ https://t.co/nsTEatmcex
Can @washingtonpost get more pathetic? The Post is now doing a deep dive into the wife of a Supreme Court justice who flew 2 flags at their home: 1. American distress flag (after a neighbor put up a “Fuck Trump” near a children’s bus stop, put up a sign blaming Martha-Ann Alito… https://t.co/vpz2e1U7Sm
NEW: WaPo Debunks NYT: Alito's Upside Down Flag Was Over 'Neighborhood Dispute, Not Politics.' https://t.co/tf1xzfKG04
NEW from @thenatpulse: WaPo Debunks NYT: Alito's Upside Down Flag Was Over 'Neighborhood Dispute, Not Politics.' In a rare move, the Washington Post has ...... READ ON: https://t.co/F3k2ugP4Nf
GIFT ARTICLE So the excuse offered by Justice Alito was a lie. This had literally nothing to do with a neighborhood imbroglio over yard signage containing profanity. And @washingtonpost had it in-hand, but iced it for 3+ years. https://t.co/RYtAxBWaG6
Calls from Democratic lawmakers and left-wing groups for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from key cases over ethics violations are a “coordinated effort” to delegitimize the Supreme Court, according to experts. https://t.co/EqqWrxmLgH
The left thinks the American flag is controversial, so attacking Alito for another historic, patriotic flag is no surprise: https://t.co/Dckwia27Qy https://t.co/XTJAtFUVuU
NEW: Leftist reporter went to the home of Supreme Court Justice Alito to investigate flag. Runs story targeting Mrs. Alito. https://t.co/ceo9A53Jxb https://t.co/cNwjZ0d58l
Efforts to paint Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as a radical for flying a Revolutionary War-era flag outside his vacation home are "ludicrous," Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, told Newsmax. https://t.co/dI4gGpOB9e
"The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors" Also clear from Barnes' account that the "tense encounter" was with Mrs. Alito… https://t.co/O4AyM28jZb
"The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a Post spokeswoman said." https://t.co/pkDOtzwUDK
The Post’s explanation for their failure to publish this story is frankly bizarre. How was this not considered news? https://t.co/Iobn3XWXk7
The idea that Justice Alito flying the Pine Tree Flag — a symbol of the American Revolution — is an ethical violation that requires him to recuse himself from cases is ludicrous. This nothing more than a coordinated smear campaign by the Left right before the end of the Supreme… https://t.co/5uvAnr03wV
1. And you don’t know what Mrs. Alito’s motivations are, but I’m sure you are an expert with your Jump To Conclusions mat. 2. No one is denying that so this is a tedious, pointless rejoinder. 3. People on January 6th also carried American flags and Gadsden flags. Are those… https://t.co/kWuIQC3AjZ
NEW The Washington Post found out about the inverted flag flying over Justice Alito’s home back in 2021. A WaPo reporter went to the Alito residence on Inauguration Day and had a tense encounter with Justice Alito and his wife Martha-Ann. The Post says it didn’t report on… https://t.co/Pf2z3lV602
Memo to Justice Samuel Alito: If Judge @ngertner’s husband had tried to put up a sign or flag at their house in response to something a neighbor displayed that was inconsistent with or critical of his civil liberties work, Gertner said: “One of two things would have happened: A)…
“.. The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a @washingtonpost spokeswoman said ..” https://t.co/rAF1brROh8 https://t.co/Ncxlpu0IE5
The Post's belatedly disclosed decision to drop this story is inexplicable. The scene outside the Alito house recounted in this story is so bizarre that it should have led to more reporting, not dropping the story. https://t.co/chA8HaQGYW
If the Alitos had flown a BLM flag, would the left have called for Justice Alito’s recusal while the Court considered a case involving race? Or would it still depend on how they thought he’d rule in that case?
The Washington Post admits they had the Alito flag story in January 2021, but decided not to publish it. We can only wonder how much of an impact this would have had if it was published during the immediate aftermath of January 6. https://t.co/mmv9ckjOQN
The Washington Post reveals they actually already discovered in Jan 2021 the Alito flag story was fake and chose not report it after they determined it was part of a neighborhood dispute not rooted in politics. It's a good thing we didn't let this all get out of hand! https://t.co/B5i5fBxCUT
1-You don’t know the neighbor said this. Justice Alito claimed they did. 2- You do know that Alito flew the same flag as J6ers carried at same time. 3-How many people do you know that flies distress flags after a verbal disagreement with a neighbor? https://t.co/3GJGqi8KIs
WaPo confirms Justice Alito's account with contemporaneous reporting from 2021. https://t.co/8USdfxGhyb
I wonder what would have happened if Alito's wife had flown this flag outside the house. https://t.co/98yeBYD0FK
The Washington Post knew about Alito distress flag in January 2021, interviewed Martha-Ann Alito about it, and didn’t think there was a story worth publishing. And they decided to sit on this information since the New York Times story dropped on May 16. https://t.co/VhokmvzaRb https://t.co/8UDWTn0Xcn
this part is stunning. “On Jan. 20, 2021 — the day of Biden’s inauguration, which the Alitos did not attend — Barnes went to their home to follow up on the tip about the flag. He encountered the couple coming out of the house. Martha-Ann Alito was visibly upset… https://t.co/ZNeLT4ISCz https://t.co/Znb0gQh5Yz
Judge Alito's neighbor had a “Fuck Trump” sign in front of his house, some 50 feet from where neighborhood kids wait for the school bus. When asked to take it down, he called Mrs. Alito a “cunt” and blamed her for January 6. https://t.co/bWQOoAVKrT
Martha-Ann Alito told The Post in 2021 that flag was ‘signal of distress’ - The Washington Post https://t.co/XBHQM31J0c
The Washington post knew about this in 2021? https://t.co/kllanzCLvD
The Washington Post admits that it has known about the upside-down American flag at Alito’s house for THREE YEARS but decided not to publish the fact. WaPo claims it was unclear if the flag display was related to politics. Stunning. And lame. (Gift link) https://t.co/J1tZKRneuK https://t.co/UxevZbtLlB
Some real Martha Mitchell stuff here, except less cooperative w press On Jan. 20, 2021 — the day of Biden’s inauguration, which the Alitos did not attend — Barnes went to their home to follow up on the tip about the flag. He encountered the couple coming out of the house.…
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag has a long history of being an extremist symbol going back to two days ago when I first heard about it.
NEW: The wife of Justice Alito called the upside-down flag that has ignited a firestorm a “signal of distress” https://t.co/l9iwRXyoR2
The Times called the flag, which dates from the American Revolution, a symbol for “a more Christian-minded government” and also was carried on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol riot. https://t.co/kO2SY81ODm
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag has been outside of Mike Johnson’s office for 8 months since he was elected speaker (it’s still up, I checked). Rolling Stone tried to make an issue out of it in the fall, but the story gained no traction til this week. https://t.co/c414PymOjI https://t.co/u9pCbiiFUC
Good point from @JonahDispatch about the Alito flag “issue.” Where is the press curiosity about the neighbor who supposedly called Mrs. Alito a “c—t?” If a liberal justice were called a “c—t” by a Trump supporting neighbor, we’d know their name, occupation, age, etc.…
According to liberals who only just found out about the “an appeal to heaven” flag because the media is trying to cancel Alito, the flag is worse than the ISIS flag. https://t.co/8EcRRgYspd
A polite letter pleading with Chief Justice Roberts to please, pretty please come chat with the two Senators and to implore Alito to do the right thing isn’t enough. They need to demand Alito’s testimony under oath committing to comply with 28 USC 455 by recusing in all J6 cases. https://t.co/UuywKJEe0Y
The now-controversial flag flown at Justice Alito’s beach house? It’s rooted in Massachusetts. https://t.co/jTm1wnCD5q
Supreme Court chief justice faces new pressure amid Alito backlash https://t.co/qK3mZO9d8o https://t.co/og4HVZjoct
A Revolutionary War flag now linked with the Christian right and Jan. 6 rioters just flew over San Francisco. Here’s what we know https://t.co/2mdKiEwAH5
The fact is that absolutely no one viewed the Appeal to Heaven flag as a primary symbol of Jan 6th until the story about it being flown at Alito’s vacation home… https://t.co/vJHKPyES88
As someone who has flown the Appeal to Heaven flag and has one hanging on my office wall, I marvel at the people who didn’t know it even existed until the New York Times told them what to think about it.
The real Alito story isn’t the flag. It’s that the media coordinated with the left to try to convince people that the flag is provocative or controversial. The press really is playing into Trump’s hand as the enemy of the people.
A Revolutionary War flag now linked with the Christian right and Jan. 6 rioters — the same spotted over Justice Alito's beach house — appeared over a building in downtown San Francisco. Here's what we know: https://t.co/Ez1lnWgD2q