WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., reiterated to reporters Monday that he Justice Samuel wants Alito to recuse himself After the New York Times report that a inverted American flag In mid-January 2021, he was hanged in front of the Supreme Court judge’s house.
But Durbin said he does not plan to investigate the matter.
“No, we haven’t planned anything. I think he explained his situation. The American public understands what he is doing.” “But I don’t think there’s much to be gained from listening at this point. “I think he should give up the work related to Trump and his administration.”
What if Alito refuses to voluntarily recuse himself?
“There’s no way out other than impeachment, and we’re not at that point at all,” Durbin said.
Still, other Democrats on the committee said they were concerned about Alito’s situation and wanted to look into it. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R.C., a top Republican and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the upside-down flag reflected poor judgment about conservative justice.
“It’s not a good decision to make,” Graham told reporters. “I don’t know what role – he said that his wife was insulted and upset. I assume this is true. But he is still a judge of the Supreme Court. People need to understand such moments – to think.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said he had not looked into Alito’s case, but added, “Obviously, it looks very unfortunate, and we need to take a good look at it.”
The upside-down flag, long seen as a danger signal, was flown by some rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 in response to a fabricated claim that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. Alito after the Times article he said Fox News’ Shannon Bream said his wife hung the flag upside down “briefly” after an anti-Trump neighbor hurled profanities at her. According to the Times, in mid-January 2021, between the January 6 attack and the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the display of Alito’s property disturbed neighbors.
Justice Alito did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
Durbin replied, “I’ve been in this business for several years, and I want to tell you: pointing at your wife is never a good defense.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the second-ranking Court Democrat, said “we need to investigate” the Alito incident. He said it was “too soon to say” what that investigation would look like, but that it “clearly” included subpoena power if necessary.
California state Sen. Alex Padilla said he would support the investigation.
“There’s no way he didn’t know about it,” Padilla said.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said he didn’t understand why Alito or any other justice “allowed him to be painted that way” and questioned his impartiality.
“If this guy wants to wave his queer flag — that’s too weird,” Fetterman said. “Now you’re thinking: Does he like Tucker Carlson and all that weird, weird stuff?”
“I never think throwing your wife under the bus is going to be a great strategy for anything,” he said.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., a freshman on the Judiciary Committee, said he doubted the investigation would be productive.
“There should be a strong standard of ethics. I think we should not waste our time at this point.” “Only Alito’s wife did it, or she did, and it was clearly inappropriate. I don’t see anything called an investigation anywhere. That’s what happened.”
Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-La., said he did not blame Alito.
“This is America. Ms. Alito is entitled to her opinion. “But I don’t see any evidence that Justice Alito had anything to do with it,” he said. “You come home and tell my wife that she has no right to her beliefs? If you do, I see a murder in my future.”