Former national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday fiercely defended Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito against a barrage of criticism after reports said two flags related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol were displayed outside his home. .
“Absolutely not,” Bolton said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer when asked if recent reports about the flag had raised concerns about whether he could serve fairly on the Supreme Court.
“I think it’s outrageous, outrageous and unacceptable for people to say that because they carried the flag of the American Revolution and some of the January 6 protesters flew that flag, it’s now unacceptable to fly that flag. Party politicians clearly say so.” Bolton, who was frequently critical of former President Trump and the risk he poses to national security, added.
The Times reported that in July and September 2023, an “Call to Heaven” flag was seen flying outside Alito’s New Jersey beach home, which dates back to the Revolutionary War but has ties to Christian nationalism and modern-day “Stop the Steal” efforts. reported. , around the same time, on January 6, a high-profile case reached the Supreme Court.
This flag was also raised by rioters at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Wednesday’s report said an overturned American flag was flown outside Alito’s Virginia home in January 2021, around the time rioters stormed the Capitol as Congress was scheduled to certify former President Trump’s victory in the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden. This came out just a few days after this report.
The upside-down flag is also associated with the ‘Stop the Steal’ movement, which emerged in 2020 amid false claims of election fraud. Alito said his wife hung up the flag while she was arguing with her neighbor, but she did not deny the political connection.
“On January 6th, people flew a lot of flags,” Bolton said, before offering some examples. “They have no right or ability to confiscate America’s patriotic symbols. They can then have other people say it’s theirs and blame Sam Alito or someone else for flying that flag.
“I think the rush to find reasons to criticize Alito is unacceptable,” Bolton added.
Blitzer has now repeatedly pressed Bolton about the flag’s political influence on certain groups, noting that supporters of the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement celebrated reports of the flag’s installation at Alito’s home.
Bolton became increasingly animated in his insistence that the flag had no political meaning, and he chastised those who said otherwise: “It doesn’t. That’s just wrong. “It’s just wrong”, “Well they have no political influence on me”.
“It’s controversial for liberals who support Sam Alito. “It’s not controversial to me, I’m as opposed to Donald Trump as anyone I know in this country,” he said.
Bolton said Alito “clearly should not recuse himself” from the case that will be brought before the Supreme Court on January 6.
“There is no indication that there was any intention to express support for January 6th. And to the people who are using this tactic against Alito now, let me tell you, it will come back to haunt them,” he said.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
