Mary Trump, the estranged niece of former President Donald Trump, has called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito following the report of an upside-down American flag displayed outside his home. The inverted flag, a symbol often associated with Trump supporters contesting the 2020 election results, was seen just days before President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Despite lack of evidence, Trump and his allies have falsely claimed widespread voter fraud led to his defeat. Alito placed the blame on his wife for the flag display, stating he had no involvement.
In response to the incident, Mary Trump took to social media to express concerns about the Republican Party “leveraging” the system against American democracy. She called for the impeachment of Alito and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, accusing the GOP of working to destroy democracy. Mary Trump also urged Democrats to take action within the system and to expand the Court to restore its legitimacy. Impeaching a Supreme Court justice would involve a vote in the House of Representatives followed by a Senate trial, requiring a simple majority to impeach and a two-thirds majority to convict and remove.
Calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from Trump-related cases have also arisen due to his wife’s attendance at Trump’s rally preceding the Capitol riot of January 6. The Supreme Court’s code of conduct mandates that justices maintain high standards of conduct to preserve the judiciary’s integrity and independence. Some critics have raised questions about Alito’s impartiality in ruling on Trump-related cases, including a forthcoming decision on presidential immunity for Trump in his federal election subversion case. David Rivkin Jr., an Alito supporter, has criticized the push for the justice’s recusal.
Former President Trump is currently facing federal felony charges related to his alleged actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, attributing them to political motivations. The Times’ report on the upside-down American flag outside Alito’s home has led to concerns about the justice’s ability to remain impartial in cases involving Trump. This incident has prompted discussions about recusal and the Court’s integrity in dealing with politically charged cases. Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
