In a recent controversy, conservative editorial magazine National Review has come under fire for selling flags that honor embattled Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The flags, which prominently feature a photo of Alito, are based on colonial-era American flags and are intended to show support for the justice.

National Review explained that one of the flags is loosely based on the "Appeal to Heaven" flag commissioned by George Washington during the American Revolution, while the other is inspired by the Bennington battle flag associated with a revolutionary battle in Vermont. According to the magazine's promotion, the flags are described as "beautiful flags" that symbolize the stirring symbols of the American Revolution. They are available for purchase at a cost of $197.

However, the timing of the sale has sparked controversy. Alito has faced calls for his impeachment following a controversy involving an inverted American flag seen outside his home in Virginia just before President Joe Biden's inauguration. Although Alito has distanced himself from the incident, stating that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was solely responsible for placing the flag in response to a neighbor's offensive yard signs, the incident has raised questions about his judgment.

Furthermore, Alito and his wife received criticism for displaying the "Appeal to Heaven" flag outside their New Jersey vacation home in 2022. This specific flag has become associated with the controversial "Stop the Steal" campaign, aimed at overturning Biden's victory in the 2020 election against Donald Trump.

The National Review's promotion of the Alito flags mentions the recent controversies surrounding the justice and his wife, stating that they are suitable for showing support in the face of attacks, as well as for demonstrating a commitment to originalist jurisprudence and rejecting politically motivated calls for recusal. The magazine also hinted at using the flags to confront left-wing neighbors who engage in political provocations.

Unsurprisingly, the sale of the Alito flags was met with strong backlash on social media. Journalist Matt Ford of The New Republic suggested that the National Review defaced the American flag, while lawyer Alex Aronson criticized the selection of Alito's image and referred to him as an "insurrectionary theocrat."

In response to the recent controversy, Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, urging Justice Alito to recuse himself from the upcoming Trump v. United States case. The case revolves around Trump's claim that presidential immunity should shield him from criminal prosecution.

In a letter dated May 29, Justice Alito directly responded to the senators, stating that he would not recuse himself as the incidents cited did not meet the conditions for recusal. Alito reiterated that he had no involvement in the decision to fly the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, and he claimed to be unaware of the connection between the inverted flag and the "Stop the Steal" movement.

As the controversy surrounding Justice Alito and his wife's actions continues, the sale of the Alito flags by National Review has only intensified the scrutiny. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact Alito's reputation and the ongoing discourse surrounding his role in the Supreme Court.