Justice Alito Speaks on Upside-Down Flag Outside Residence

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has responded to the controversy surrounding an upside-down American flag that was seen flying outside his home in the days following the January 6th Capitol protests, stating that his wife displayed it in response to insults directed at her from a neighbor.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has addressed the issue of an upside-down American flag that was seen flying outside his home in the days after the January 6th Capitol protests. In an interview with Fox News, Alito stated that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, put the flag up as a response to verbal insults she had received from a neighbor.

The New York Times initially reported on the story, stating that the upside-down flag – a symbol adopted by some Trump supporters disputing the results of the 2020 presidential election – appeared outside Alito's home in Alexandria, Virginia, on January 17, 2021.

Alito explained that the incident began in the days leading up to January 6th, 2021, when a neighbor living down the street from him put up a sign that read "F--- Trump" near a children's bus stop. His wife, Martha-Ann, approached the neighbors about the sign, but the conversation was not well received.

Subsequently, the neighbor put up another sign directly attacking Martha-Ann and blaming her personally for the events that transpired at the Capitol on January 6th. During a walk in the neighborhood with his wife, Alito stated that an individual from the property with the signage engaged in an argument with her, using derogatory language.

This incident left Martha-Ann distraught, and she decided to hang the American flag upside down outside their home as a form of statement. Justice Alito stated that he had no involvement in the decision to display the flag and that it was only flying for a short period of time.

He acknowledged that he had no right to control his wife's actions and that some neighbors on his street have been very politically active.

The controversy surrounding the flag outside Alito's home has emerged as the Supreme Court is deliberating over former President Donald Trump's immunity case. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing political divisions in the United States and the challenges faced by public figures in maintaining a balance between their personal lives and their professional responsibilities.