Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts declined a meeting request from Democratic Senators Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), who wanted to discuss the display of two Jan. 6-aligned flags at two of Justice Samuel Alito's properties.
In a letter released by the Supreme Court, Roberts told Durbin and Whitehouse that Alito responded to the Democrats' recusal questions and that a meeting “would be inadvisable” given “the importance of preserving judicial independence.”
“The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal,” Alito wrote lawmakers yesterday. “As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention.” (RELATED: Alito Says He Will Not Recuse Himself From Trump-Aligned Cases After Flag Controversies)
NEW: Chief Justice John Roberts refuses to meet with Senate Democrats about Alito's ethics issues, citing "separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence." https://t.co/HvzS1RX0vS pic.twitter.com/70M5P3QpZV
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) May 30, 2024
Some powerful liberal activists are clamoring for Alito's impeachment, alleging that the Supreme Court is jeopardizing its credibility ahead of cases related to the U.S. Capitol riot and Donald Trump.
Justice Alito must be impeached.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) May 29, 2024
He has now refused to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan 6 insurrection, even after flying two pro-insurrection flags outside his homes.
He must be impeached if the high court is to retain any legitimacy. pic.twitter.com/LHbOVSuAUc
On MSNBC Wednesday night, a lively left-wing panel led by host Stephanie Ruhle dived into the debate on how congressional Democrats should move forward now that Alito has refused to recuse himself.
My dear dear friend @SRuhle had me on her show @11thHour and I talked about how democrats should absolutely hold hearings on justice Alito's flag-gate and if Sen Durbin doesn't have the stomach for it, Sen WhiteHouse absolutely does pic.twitter.com/RzO5KczvGq
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) May 30, 2024
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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