Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation from Democratic senators to discuss Supreme Court ethics and the recent controversy surrounding flags flown outside homes owned by Justice Samuel Alito. This decision was conveyed in a letter sent by Roberts following a similar letter from Alito rejecting demands for his recusal from cases involving former President Donald Trump and the January 6 rioters due to the flags' resemblance to those carried during the Capitol attack.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse had requested the meeting with Roberts and urged him to ensure Alito's recusal from cases related to the January 6 attack and Trump's election challenges. In his response, Roberts emphasized that justices determine their recusal decisions independently and highlighted the rarity of chief justices meeting with lawmakers.
