In a recent development, Donald Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump, has called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito following the controversy surrounding an upside-down American flag displayed outside his home. Mary Trump has also issued a stern warning, claiming that Republicans are "leveraging" the system to undermine American democracy.

The photograph of the inverted flag, often associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement and contesting the 2020 presidential election results, was captured on January 17, just days before President Joe Biden's inauguration. This divisive symbol has been championed by Trump supporters, who baselessly claim widespread voter fraud as the reason for Trump's loss to Biden.

Justice Alito quickly distanced himself from the incident, asserting that he had no involvement in flying the flag and attributing it to his wife, Martha-Ann Alito. According to his statement, she placed the flag briefly in response to a neighbor's objectionable and personally insulting language displayed on yard signs.

Calls for Justice Alito's impeachment have been growing, with Mary Trump taking to social media to voice her support for his removal from the Supreme Court. In a post on X, she emphasized the urgency of the situation, accusing Republicans of leveraging the system to destroy American democracy. Mary Trump also called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Taking an impeachment vote against a Supreme Court justice involves the House of Representatives deliberating on the matter. If impeachment is approved, a Senate trial would follow. The House requires a simple majority to impeach a Supreme Court justice or any federal judge, while the Senate needs a two-thirds majority to convict and remove them, as outlined by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Mary Trump's statements have sparked further debate over Justice Thomas, who faced similar calls for recusal from Trump-related cases due to his wife's attendance at the rally preceding the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

The New York Times report has also raised concerns about Justice Alito's impartiality in handling Trump-related cases, including the impending decision on whether Trump is protected by presidential immunity in his federal election subversion case. Some argue that the flag incident suggests a conflict of interest, potentially requiring recusal.

In response to the calls for recusal, David Rivkin Jr., an appellate attorney and Alito supporter, spoke out against the push for Justice Alito's recusal, deeming it "fundamentally wrong."

As the investigation into Trump's alleged actions surrounding the Capitol riot intensifies, with the former president facing multiple federal felony counts, he has continuously pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the case against him is politically motivated.

The implications of the upside-down flag incident and the subsequent calls for impeachment underscore the ongoing polarization within the United States, highlighting the need for strong institutions and impartial decision-making. The fate of Justice Alito and the potential implications for Trump-related cases remain uncertain, but the debate over safeguarding American democracy continues to unfold.