One frustrated senator recently vented about how his concerns regarding Justice Samuel Alito seem to have vanished into a “black hole of indifference.”
Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote a letter to Alito expressing his worries after Alito dismissed Congress’s authority to create an Ethics court during a hearing. This has led to renewed concerns about Alito’s neutrality, especially after he flew an anti-Trump banner outside his Virginia home.
Surveys show that Americans have been losing trust in the Supreme Court. Gallup reported that in September 2023, only 41 percent of Americans approved of the Court’s performance, while 58 percent disapproved. This discontent contrasts sharply with the ratings from five years ago, where approval and disapproval ratings were also at 41 percent and 58 percent, respectively.
Whitehouse emphasized his concerns in his letter and criticized Alito for speaking publicly on matters that could come before the Court, particularly criticizing Congress’s ethics efforts. The senator also raised issues about Alito’s interviewers and potential conflict of interest.
Alito faced more scrutiny after reports that an upside-down American flag flew outside Donald Trump’s Virginia home, with allegations of it showing support for Trump post the 2020 election’s controversy. Alito denied involvement in the flag issue, attributing it to a response from his wife to a neighbor’s offensive remarks.
Democrats have been angered by Alito’s refusal to recuse himself from cases related to the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, including Trump’s alleged role in it. This decision sparked further outrage among Democrats.