In a private conversation that was recorded secretly, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito expressed his frustration with media coverage of himself and his colleagues, focusing on funding sources.
At a Supreme Court Historical Society event on June 3, liberal documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor and her colleague Ally Sammarco approached Alito, praising him as “an American hero” and questioning why the media seemed to be targeting the Supreme Court. Alito responded, implying that certain groups unhappy with the court’s decisions were behind the negative coverage.
Alito specifically mentioned ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit newsroom, for their critical reporting on the court. The organization had uncovered undisclosed gifts and trips received by Justice Clarence Thomas from billionaire Harlan Crow, prompting Thomas to update his financial disclosures.
Alito claimed that ProPublica had invested significant resources in scrutinizing both himself and Justice Thomas. He criticized the organization’s approach, suggesting they were searching for any possible negative angle.
In response to Alito’s comments, a spokesperson for ProPublica emphasized the newsroom’s commitment to independence and accountability, stating that their investigations are not influenced by donors and are conducted impartially.
Additionally, the decision by Clarence Thomas to revise his financial disclosures following the ProPublica report suggests a level of transparency.