The recent release of recordings made by filmmaker and activist Lauren Windsor reveals the personal views of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann Alito, in particular their very conservative religious and political convictions.
These revelations have sparked considerable controversy in recent days.
In a secret recording, Justice Samuel Alito endorsed the U.S. as a nation “of godliness,” while Chief Justice John Roberts spoke of pluralism.https://t.co/7SK6isxlYC
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 11, 2024
In these secret recordings made at a June 3 gala for the Supreme Court Historical Society, Justice Alito expresses opinions that many believe compromise the neutrality expected of the judiciary.
Comments by Alito, known for opposing abortion rights, gay marriage and LGBTQ rights, are dominated by religious conservatism and beliefs of “secular forces attacking” the country.
Asked about his political duty, Judge Alito stressed that there are fundamental principles on which it is impossible to compromise. In conversation with his interlocutor, he explained that in a conflict, one side always wins out in the end. He admitted that there might be ways to collaborate and coexist peacefully, but acknowledged that it remains complicated, as some compromises simply can’t be made.
Martha-Ann Alito, wife of Judge Alito, also made controversial statements, strongly suggesting that she would take revenge on the media who had reported a few weeks earlier that a U.S. flag had been hoisted upside down on two of her personal residences for several days after the Capitol attacks of January 6, 2021. Recall that inverted flags had been widely used by supporters of former President Donald Trump and his Stop the Steal campaign.
In the secret recording, Martha-Ann Alito rather threateningly stated that she is from Germany and that if anyone attacked her, she would fight back…
In recent years, the Supreme Court has come under considerable pressure through controversies likely to influence presidential elections and the future political landscape. Some observers question the Court’s neutrality.
Recently, these concerns have taken on new urgency due to former President Donald Trump’s legal entanglements.
These include his request for presidential immunity from criminal charges relating to allegations of electoral fraud during the 2020 presidential election.