In a recent interview, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed concern over the unchecked power of Supreme Court justices, specifically referencing Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Alito.
Buttigieg's comments were in response to a covert recording taken by liberal filmmaker Lauren Windsor during an annual dinner event, where the Alitos were heard discussing what Buttigieg interpreted as "insurrectionist symbology."
According to Fox News, Buttigieg voiced his apprehensions to CNN anchor John Berman, stating, "Supreme Court justices have an unbelievable amount of power. And by the nature and the structure of the Supreme Court, there is no supervision over that power. They are entrusted with it literally for as long as they live."
The recording in question captured Martha-Ann Alito expressing her desire to fly a "Sacred Heart of Jesus flag," a Catholic emblem symbolizing compassion, in response to a Pride flag displayed near one of her properties. She recounted a conversation with her husband, saying, "And he's like, Oh, please dont put up a flag.' I said, I wont do it, because I'm deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, I'm putting it up and Im going to send them a message every day, maybe every week Ill be changing the flags.'"
Buttigieg emphasized that public faith in the Supreme Court hinges on the justices' ability to make "enormously consequential decisions that shape our everyday lives with a sense of fairness." He further expressed hope that Americans could discern between "a flag that symbolizes love and acceptance and signals to people who have sometimes feared for their safety that they're going to be okay and insurrectionist symbology."
The Transportation Secretary's comments also referenced a New York Times report linking flags seen at the Alitos' residences to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. An inverted American flag was briefly displayed outside one of their homes, which Justice Alito clarified was his wife's doing and had no connection to the Capitol incident. Additionally, an "Appeal to Heaven" flag, a historical naval flag, was seen at their beach house.
This story was reported by Fox News' Julia Johnson and Gabriel Hays. The debate surrounding the Alitos' flag choices and Buttigieg's comments underscore the ongoing tension between traditional values and progressive viewpoints in the current political climate.
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