Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's Upside-Down American Flag: A Distress Signal or Ethical Concern?

Alexandria, Virginia United States of America
Displaying an inverted American flag is generally considered disrespectful and against the Flag Code.
Martha-Alito described the upside-down flag as an 'international signal of distress'.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann flew an upside-down American flag at their home in response to a neighborhood dispute in January 2021.
The Supreme Court has been under scrutiny for its handling of ethics issues, particularly regarding undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices.
Two Democratic senators, Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts over this incident and other ethical concerns related to Alito's involvement in cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol or Trump's election interference charges.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's Upside-Down American Flag: A Distress Signal or Ethical Concern?

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, found themselves at the center of a controversy in January 2021 when they flew an upside-down American flag at their home in response to a neighborhood dispute. The incident came amid heightened tensions following the attack on the US Capitol by extremist supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

According to reports, Martha-Alito described the upside-down flag as an 'international signal of distress.' However, she demanded a reporter to leave their property when he asked about the flag and yelled 'It's an international signal of distress!' The incident occurred after their neighbor posted signs with offensive language towards them.

The display of an inverted American flag is not uncommon among far-right groups and was used as a symbol by Trump supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. However, it is important to note that flying the flag upside down is generally considered disrespectful and against the Flag Code.

Two Democratic senators, Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts over this incident and other ethical concerns related to Alito's involvement in cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol or Trump's election interference charges.

The Supreme Court has been under scrutiny for its handling of ethics issues, particularly regarding undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The court adopted a code of ethics in November 2023 but lacks a means of enforcement.

It is important to note that this article does not make any calls to action or draw conclusions beyond the facts presented. The purpose is to provide a complete and factual account of the incident and its implications.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Was the upside-down flag truly a distress signal or just a symbol for far-right groups?
  • What other ethical concerns are related to Alito's involvement in cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol or Trump's election interference charges?

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Samuel Alito’s wife claimed upside-down flag was ‘international sign of distress’

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Joanna Walters Saturday, 25 May 2024 18:52
  • Unique Points
    • Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, claimed that an upside-down American flag at their home was ‘an international signal of distress.’
    • The upside-down flag was reportedly displayed in response to a neighborhood dispute.
    • Martha-Alito told The Washington Post about the flag incident in January 2021, not long after the attack on the US Capitol by extremist supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
    • The New York Times reported that the Alitos also flew a ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, which is associated with the far right and represents a call for help in desperate circumstances.
  • Accuracy
    • US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, claimed that an upside-down American flag at their home was ‘an international signal of distress.’
    • Senior Democrats have requested a meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts over the issue.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The author, Joanna Walters, implies bias towards the political left by reporting on Democratic senators' requests for a meeting with the supreme court chief justice and their calls for Justice Alito to recuse himself from election-related cases. She also mentions that these reports come on top of previous accusations of political influence and corruption aimed at Justices Alito and Thomas, who are described as the 'two most conservative justices on the supreme court bench'. The author does not provide any counterbalancing information or perspective from the political right.
    • The plea for a meeting is a new approach after Roberts declined to testify at a hearing on supreme court ethics last year, amid a scandal over accusations of political influence and corruption aimed at Alito and Clarence Thomas.
      • Two leading Democratic senators are requesting a meeting with the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, in the wake of these reports. This comes on top of calls demanding that Justice Alito recuse himself from election-related cases before the court and face investigation by the US Senate.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      73%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Washington Post: Justice Samuel Alito’s wife said upside-down American flag was ‘an international signal of distress’ in 2021

      CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Shania Shelton Saturday, 25 May 2024 18:04
      • Unique Points
        • Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, raised an inverted American flag at their home in Alexandria, Virginia in January 2021.
        • Martha-Alito demanded a reporter to leave their property when he asked about the flag and yelled ‘It’s an international signal of distress!’
        • The incident occurred during a dispute with their neighbors.
        • Martha-Alito flew the upside-down flag as a response to their neighbor posting signs with offensive language towards them.
        • The inverted American flag was used as a symbol by Trump supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
      • Accuracy
        • ][The Alitos flew an upside-down American flag][] as a response to their neighbor posting signs with offensive language towards them.
        • ,
      • Deception (30%)
        The author, Shania Shelton, reports Martha-Ann Alito's statement about the upside-down American flag being an 'international signal of distress' without providing any context or evidence that this is a widely accepted meaning of the flag. This is an example of sensationalism and selective reporting as it only presents information that supports the author's position, implying that Martha-Alito's statement holds weight when it may not be accurate.
        • Martha-Ann Alito then shouted: ‘Ask them what they did!’ in apparent reference to the Alitos’ neighbors.
        • The Washington Post reported Saturday, detailing an encounter during that time between the Alitos and a Post reporter outside the couple’s house in Alexandria, Virginia, on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration to follow up on a related tip. Martha-Ann Alito demanded the reporter ‘get off my property’ as she yelled, ‘It’s an international signal of distress!’, before retrieving a novelty flag from the couple’s home and yelling, ‘There! Is that better?’ after placing it on the flagpole.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting The Washington Post and CNN multiple times. She also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the flag as an 'international signal of distress' and quoting Martha-Ann Alito shouting 'It's an international signal of distress!' without providing any context or evidence that it actually is. This creates a sense of urgency and fear, potentially manipulating the reader's emotions.
        • “It’s an international signal of distress!”
        • “Ask them what they did!”
      • Bias (80%)
        The author, Shania Shelton, uses language that depicts Martha-Ann Alito's actions as extreme or unusual by describing the upside-down American flag as an 'international signal of distress'. This is a biased characterization as there are various reasons why someone might fly an upside-down American flag, and it does not necessarily indicate distress.
        • The Post reported that Martha-Ann Alito then shouted: ‘Ask them what they did!’ in apparent reference to the Alitos’ neighbors before retrieving a novelty flag from the couple's home and yelling, 'There! Is that better?’ after placing it on the flagpole.
          • The Washington Post reported Saturday, detailing an encounter during that time between the Alitos and a Post reporter outside the couple’s house in Alexandria, Virginia, on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration to follow up on a related tip. Martha-Ann Alito demanded the reporter ‘get off my property’ as she yelled, ‘It’s an international signal of distress!’, in apparent reference to the flag.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          92%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Wife of Justice Alito called upside-down flag ‘signal of distress’

          The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Justin Jouvenal, Saturday, 25 May 2024 14:00
          • Unique Points
            • Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, described an upside-down American flag at their home in Fairfax County, Va. as ‘an international signal of distress’
            • Martha-Alito made this statement to a Washington Post reporter in January 2021
            • The tip about the flag came from a neighborhood dispute
          • Accuracy
            • Martha-Ann Alito described an upside-down American flag at their home as 'an international signal of distress'
            • The upside-down flag was reportedly displayed in response to a neighborhood dispute
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          95%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Democratic senators request meeting with Chief Justice Roberts over flags flown at Alito's homes

          The Associated Press News Friday, 24 May 2024 20:05
          • Unique Points
            • Senators Durbin and Whitehouse have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts to discuss Supreme Court ethics and for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack or Trump’s election interference charges.
            • Two Democratic senators believe that flags carried by rioters at the Capitol had been flown outside of houses owned by Justice Samuel Alito.
          • Accuracy
            • Seniors Democrats have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts to discuss court ethics and ensure Justice Alito recuses himself from cases related to the January 6 attack or Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          88%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Key Senate Democrats seek meeting with Chief Justice Roberts over 'Supreme Court’s ethics crisis'

          NBC News Digital Saturday, 25 May 2024 21:32
          • Unique Points
            • Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse requested a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to discuss the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis
            • Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia ‘Ginni’ Thomas, have been involved in cases relating to the January 6th attack on the Capitol and the alleged surrounding plot to overturn the 2020 election
          • Accuracy
            • Reports revealed that controversial flags, including an upside-down American flag and an ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, were displayed at Justice Samuel Alito’s homes
            • Two leading Democratic senators have requested a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts to discuss court ethics and ensure Justice Alito recuses himself from cases related to the January 6 attack or Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
            • The Supreme Court is currently considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, including one on charges faced by the rioters and another on whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. Alito is participating in both cases and has rejected previous calls to recuse himself.
          • Deception (80%)
            The article reports on the actions of Senate Democrats seeking a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts to address the Supreme Court's ethics crisis following reports that some justices, specifically Samuel Alito, had displayed flags associated with the Capitol rioters at their homes. The author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements in this article. There is no emotional manipulation or sensationalism present. The article also provides quotes from Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, making it clear that the sources are disclosed. However, the article does engage in selective reporting by only reporting details that support the Democrats' position and their calls for recusal of Justices Alito and Thomas from cases related to Trump and the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The article also implies facts without linking to peer-reviewed studies or retracted studies in regards to ethical standards of the court.
            • Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia ‘Ginni’ Thomas, a conservative activist who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
            • The senators wrote that Alito created ‘reasonable doubt as to his impartiality’ and repeated calls for him to recuse himself in cases related to Trump and the capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
            • Two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked to meet with Chief Justice John Roberts to address ‘the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis’ following reports that controversial flags flown at the Capitol building by some supporters of former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, were also displayed at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s homes.
          • Fallacies (75%)
            The article does not contain any formal fallacies. However, there are several informal fallacies present. The first is an appeal to authority in the form of quoting two senators without considering their potential biases or motivations. The second is a dichotomous depiction in the description of the flags flown at Justice Alito's homes as being associated with a specific political movement, rather than acknowledging that symbols can have multiple meanings and interpretations. Additionally, there is an appeal to emotion in the use of inflammatory language such as 'ethics crisis' and 'controversial flags'. However, the article does not contain any examples of deception or bias.
            • Two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked to meet with Chief Justice John Roberts
            • Alito created reasonable doubt as to his impartiality
            • The Supreme Court is currently set to weigh in on two cases related to Jan. 6: Trump’s presidential immunity claim in his election interference case and an appeal for a man prosecuted for his actions at the U.S. Capitol.
            • following reports that controversial flags flown at the Capitol building by some supporters of former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, were also displayed at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s homes.
            • The news about Alito’s flags comes amid a litany of stories that have raised questions about the ethical standards of the court and calls for justices to recuse themselves from certain cases.
          • Bias (95%)
            The article reports on two Senate Democrats requesting a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts to discuss the ethics crisis at the Supreme Court following reports that some controversial flags were displayed at the homes of Justices Alito and Thomas. The authors of the article repeatedly mention that these flags were also flown by supporters of former President Trump and those involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This repeated use of language to associate the justices with extremist groups and controversial events demonstrates a clear bias against them.
            • The news about Alito’s flags comes amid a litany of stories that have raised questions about the ethical standards of the court and calls for justices to recuse themselves from certain cases. Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia ‘Ginni’ Thomas, a conservative activist who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
              • The senators also repeated calls for the court to take ‘meaningful action’ to address the ‘ongoing ethical crisis’ by adopting an enforceable code of ethics.
                • Two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked to meet with Chief Justice John Roberts to address ‘the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis’ following reports that controversial flags flown at the Capitol building by some supporters of former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, were also displayed at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s homes.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication