The Washington Post revealed Saturday that the news outlet initially relayed the Samuel Alito flag story in 2021 after its former Supreme Court reporter had a confrontation about it with the justice’s wife.
“The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than justice, and was related to a dispute with its neighbors,” said the Washington Post. quoting a newspaper spokesperson. “It was not clear at the time that the debate was of political origin.”
Former Washington Post Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes visited the Alitos’ home in 2021 after receiving a flag tip. According to the outlet, Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann, shouted, “It’s an international distress signal” after being asked by the reporter about the flag.
An upside-down American flag, a symbol used by supporters of the former president who falsely claim that President Biden did not win the 2020 election, was seen flying at Alito’s home in the weeks that followed the January 6 riot, the New York Times first reported last. week.
Alito previously told Fox News that it was his wife who hung the flag in response to insults from a neighbor.
Cameron Barr, the former senior editor, took responsibility for not publishing the article at the time, according to Semafor.
“I agree with (Supreme Court reporter) Bob Barnes and others that we shouldn’t do a one-instalment story about the flag, because it seemed like the story was about Martha-Ann Alito and not her husband,” Barr told the outlet.
Semafor called the decision “cautious and deferential, and very pre-Dobbs,” suggesting it meant more now after the Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.
“Now it’s hard to imagine,” the outlet wrote.
Members of the media and prominent Democratic lawmakers are calling on Alito to recuse himself from all court cases related to Donald Trump. Conservatives said the story was much ado about nothing and part of a broader effort to delegitimize the Supreme Court.
“In retrospect, I should have pushed this story more,” Barr told Semafor.
Alito’s wife allegedly told the Washington Post reporter to ask their neighbors what they had done and asked the reporter to leave their property.
Another symbol carried by Trump supporters, a “Call to Heaven” flag, was seen flying at a beach house owned by Alito in New Jersey, the New York Times reported days after its initial report. The flag, also known as the Pine Flag, dates back to the Revolutionary War.
New York Post
