In a growing scandal surrounding Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, it has been reported that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, justified the display of an upside-down American flag at their Virginia home as an "international signal of distress." This revelation comes as senior Democrats are requesting a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts over the matter.

According to The Washington Post, Martha-Ann Alito made the comments during a visit by a reporter to the couple's home in January 2021, shortly after the attack on the US Capitol by extremist supporters of former President Donald Trump. She claimed that the flag had been flown in that manner in response to a neighborhood dispute.

While flying the Stars and Stripes upside down is considered a distress signal according to the US flag code, it has become more commonly associated with protest activism, particularly in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. The flag display was adopted by some far-right individuals attempting to overturn President Joe Biden's electoral victory.

The Washington Post stated that they did not report on the episode at the time because it appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito and connected to a non-political argument with their neighbors. However, in a surprising twist, the New York Times recently revealed the upside-down American flag at the Alitos' residence during a political dispute with neighbors.

Additionally, the New York Times reported that another flag, known as the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, associated with the far right and the American revolution, was flown above the Alitos' New Jersey holiday home last year.

In response to these reports, two leading Democratic senators, Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, are requesting a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to discuss court ethics. They are also calling on Justice Alito to recuse himself from any cases related to the January 6 attack or Trump's attempts to overturn the election.

The Supreme Court has not yet commented on the letter from Durbin and Whitehouse, but it is worth noting that the court is currently considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, including charges against the rioters and the issue of Trump's immunity from election interference charges. Justice Alito has participated in both cases despite past demands from Democrats to recuse himself on other matters.

While Justice Alito denies any involvement in the upside-down flag display, both he and the court have declined to comment on the "Appeal to Heaven" flag and its significance.

Durbin and Whitehouse have stated their intention to continue pressuring the court for action on ethical concerns. Their plea for a meeting with Chief Justice Roberts comes after his refusal to testify at a previous hearing on Supreme Court ethics, which was held amidst allegations of political influence and corruption targeting Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas.

The controversy surrounding the Alito family's flag displays has sparked widespread discussion on the ethics of Supreme Court justices and their impartiality in handling important cases. As the debate continues, the American Legion's flag code remains clear that flying the flag upside down is only permissible in dire distress situations, highlighting the significance of this matter.