By John Kruzel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, in a secret recording made public by a liberal activist on Monday, agreed with the sentiment that the U.S. must return “to a place of godliness.” “
Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording that activist Lauren Windsor posted on social media and provided to the media outlet Rolling Stone.
A Supreme Court spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson for Rolling Stone did not respond to a request for comment.
In response to questions from Reuters, Windsor said in an email that she attended the Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual dinner on June 3 as a paying member, posed as a conservative Christian and approached Alito and asked him how the country could become less political. could be. polarized before turning to religion.
In the recording, she said, “I think the solution is really to win a moral argument. People in this country who believe in God have to keep fighting for that, to bring our country back to a place of godliness.”
A voice that sounded like Alito’s responded, “Well, I agree with you. I agree with you.’
When asked about the current divide in American politics, the voice that sounded like Alito replied, “One side or the other is going to win.” Don’t know. I mean, there can be a way of working – a way of living. peacefully together, but it’s difficult, you know, because there are disagreements on fundamental issues that really can’t be compromised. So it’s not like you’re going to split the difference.’
Windsor said: “By saying one side will win and that some things cannot be compromised, he is admitting a lack of impartiality that is the foundation of our justice system.”
James Duff, the executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, said in an emailed statement: “We condemn the surreptitious recording of judges during the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening.”
Alito has come under scrutiny following reports that flags linked to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss flew outside two of the judge’s houses, prompting Democrats to call for his denial of current affairs related to the 2020 elections.
The New York Times reported in May about two flags, like the ones some Trump supporters carried during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, being flown at the Houses of Justice. An upside-down American flag flew at his Virginia home in the Washington suburbs, while a flag with the words “Appeal to Heaven” flew at his vacation home in New Jersey.
The ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag symbolizes the hopes of some conservative activists for a more Christian-oriented US government.
Alito said in a statement last month rejecting calls for its refusal that he was not familiar with the flag’s meaning. He also told lawmakers that the flag raising in both cases was done by his wife, Martha-Ann Alito. Reuters could not independently verify this.
(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)
