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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the US Senate to launch investigations into two separate reports of flags flown at homes of supreme court justice Samuel Alito that are associated with the 6 January 2021 attack at the US Capitol.
“What we are seeing here is an extraordinary breach of not just the trust and the stature of the supreme court, but we are seeing a fundamental challenge to our democracy,” the progressive US congresswoman said during an interview with MSNBC host Chris Hayes late on Wednesday.
“Samuel Alito has identified himself with the same people who raided the Capitol on January 6 and is now going to be presiding over court cases that have deep implications over the participants of that rally.”
She added: “And while this is the threat to our democracy, Democrats have a responsibility for defending our democracy.”
The comments come after the New York Times reported that an “appeal to heaven” flag, which has been adopted by Christian nationalists, was flown at the summer home of Alito on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, last July and September. The flag was carried by some in the crowd during the far-right, violent insurrection at the US Capitol, where extremist supporters of Donald Trump broke in to try, in vain, to stop the US Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election over then president Trump.
Also known as the pine tree flag, it was originally used on warships commanded by George Washington during the American revolutionary war against the ruling British. It has since been adopted by Christian nationalists who advocate for an American government based on Christian teachings.
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The second flag report comes after the New York Times also reported that an upside-down American flag was flown outside the Virginia residence of Alito’s home shortly after the January 6 insurrection. Alito claimed his wife flew the flag briefly during a spat with neighbors over politics.