The justice’s wife allegedly spat at her neighbors’ car and traded insults, prompting the young couple to call the police
After reports that an upside-down American flag had flown outside the Virginia residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito during the period surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, the conservative justice blamed the flag’s placement on his wife, Martha-Ann — claiming her actions were a result of a clash over a neighbor’s anti-Trump yard sign and a verbal insult.
Now, the Alitos’ neighbors — Emily Baden and her then-boyfriend, now husband — are disputing the Alitos’ version of events, according to the The New York Times, which reviewed text messages and a police call to corroborate the claims. According to the Badens, Martha-Ann instigated the weekslong conflict and, at one point, spat at their car as they drove by the Alito’s home.
Per the Times, the couple had placed signs on their yard that read “Trump Is a Fascist” and “You Are Complicit” shortly after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Emily told the publication that the second sign was not directed at the justice and his wife, but at Republicans in general. The signs were soon taken down by Emily’s mother out of safety concerns.
If Roberts had any principles or just a spine he’d set an example, instead the SCOTUS legacy is beclowned daily and he does not care. What a failure of a once vaunted institution.
He is setting an example. He is an example that you can stack the supreme court with people who will do the bidding of their party, law be damned, and there is little to nothing to be done about it, at least not before it is too late. He is finally in a position where he doesn’t have to keep up with the act so much anymore.
Roberts engineered all of this shit with Citizens United. He is putin’s man.
Not defending Roberts, but he hasn’t the power to do shit about any other Supreme. It’s not like he’s the boss of the others.
The Chief Justice calling on him to recuse would be one. Even better - advocating for a binding code of ethics.
At the very least, meeting with Congress.
He refuses to even do symbolic gestures.
What could Roberts do?
Legally I’m not sure - symbolically he could do a lot. Call out the ethical judgement of Thomas and Alito for one. Recommend recusal. Hell, suggest resignations - if he were a principled Chief Justice that is, but alas….