Justice Alito’s Call with Trump Sparks Ethics Debate Amid Legal Battle
OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A rare phone call between Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and President-elect Donald Trump has ignited a storm of controversy, with legal analysts and political observers fiercely debating its implications. The call occurred just a day before Trump requested the Supreme Court to block his criminal sentencing in the New York hush-money case, citing presidential immunity under a landmark ruling from the previous summer.
Criticism swiftly mounted against both Alito and Trump. “No way should Alito ever have taken this call,” former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) wrote on X. “No way, no how. Doesn’t matter what they spoke about. He should not have taken the call. Period. He must recuse himself.”
The controversy deepened as legal experts questioned the timing and appropriateness of the conversation. Slate legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern expressed his incredulity on Bluesky, stating, “This is, um, extremely unusual behavior by a justice, and it’s very unclear to me why Trump needed Alito to vouch for this guy in the first place. Out of all the people who could attest to his character, it had to be Alito. Right now?”
Further scrutiny came from a lawyer and MSNBC legal commentator Tristan Snell, who posted on X: “Justice Alito takes a call from Trump, right as Trump’s lawyers sought to a stay to stop Trump’s criminal sentencing in NYC. Alito claims it was to help a former clerk get a job. Doesn’t matter. Federal law requires Alito to be DISQUALIFIED from the Trump stay petition.”
The call has reignited concerns over Alito’s impartiality, with critics highlighting previous ethical questions surrounding his rulings related to Trump. Alito defended the conversation, telling CNN News that Trump made no mention of the emergency petition filed by his attorneys earlier that day.
Skepticism about Alito’s explanation was widespread. Princeton University history professor Kevin M. Kruse sarcastically posted on Bluesky: “Sam Alito, just a humble jurist with no personal politics.” Off Message, co-host Brian Beutler added, “Fortunately, Alito is a man of pristine character and would never lie about these matters.”
Political commentator Keith Olbermann was more direct, writing on X: “Sam Alito is utterly without ethics and legitimacy. He must be ousted. Pass it on.”
The incident has fueled debate over judicial ethics and transparency, raising questions about the boundaries of acceptable behavior for Supreme Court justices in politically sensitive cases. As the fallout continues, calls for accountability are growing louder.
This is, um, extremely unusual behavior by a justice, and it’s very unclear to me why Trump needed Alito to vouch for this guy in the first place. Out of all the people who could attest to his character, it had to be Alito? Right now? abcnews.go.com/US/trump-spe…
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:12 AM
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Sam Alito, just a humble jurist with no personal politics.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:02 AM
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Fortunately Alito is a man of pristine character and would never lie about these matters. abcnews.go.com/US/trump-spe…
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:02 AM
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