The Alitos and Roberts discuss politically sensitive topics in secret recordings of liberal activist

CNN
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A left-wing activist on Monday released secret recordings of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts, discussing a range of politically sensitive topics.

In conversation with the activist, who presented herself as a religious conservative and did not reveal in the recordings she released that she was producing them and would make them public, Minister Alito endorses her suggestion that “people in this country who believe in God have to continue fighting for this – to return our country to a place of godliness.” “Well, I agree with you, I agree with you,” Alito says.

At another point, the activist presents herself as a devout Catholic, telling the judge: “I don’t know if we can negotiate with the left in the way that, like, needs to happen for the polarization to end. I think it’s about winning.”

“I think you’re probably right,” Alito responds. “One side or the other – one side or the other will win. I don’t know. I mean, there may be a way of working, a way of peacefully living together, but it’s difficult, you know, because there are differences in fundamental things that really can’t be compromised. They really can’t be compromised. So, it’s not like you’re going to split the difference.”

The recordings were made by Lauren Windsor, a self-described documentary filmmaker who said she made the recordings during a dinner hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society last week. The subjects appear to be unaware they were being recorded by Windsor, who called the clips “secret audio” on X.

Rolling Stone first reported on the recordings.

During last week’s event, Windsor also secretly recorded a chat he had with Chief Justice John Roberts. In that conversation, the chief can be heard on a recording rejecting some of Windsor’s comments, including her position that the Supreme Court should “guide” the US as a “Christian nation.”

“Yes, I don’t know if we live in a Christian nation. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say maybe not,” Roberts says in the recording. “And it’s not our job to do that. It’s our job to decide cases in the best way possible.”

CNN has not independently obtained the full audio of comments made by Alito or his wife, and the excerpts that were posted by Windsor on X they were part of a larger recording she made during the event.

Alito did not respond to CNN’s questions about his comments or those of his wife, Martha-Ann. Roberts also did not respond to CNN about the secret recordings.

The Alitos, in particular, have been embroiled in recent controversy following media reports of two provocative flags flying at the conservative jurist’s properties. The incident added to a growing list of ethical controversies that have plagued the court in recent years and drawn scrutiny from politicians and pundits across the aisle.

In a separate clip, during which Windsor again presented herself as a religious conservative, Martha-Ann Alito can be heard lamenting a Washington Post-style reporter who wrote critically about her, and goes on to complain about “femnazis,” whom she says she “believes in.” (Judge Alito) should control it.

The comment came after Windsor raised the flag controversy, in which Justice Alito said his wife was responsible for flying two provocative flags seen on Alito’s properties, an upside-down U.S. flag flown at his Virginia home earlier 2021 and a “Sky Flag Appeal” at his home in New Jersey last summer.

“Then they will go to hell,” Martha-Ann Alito says in the recording. “He never controls me.”

Later in her conversation with Windsor, Martha-Ann Alito says she wants to fly “a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look at the Pride flag across the pond next month.”

“And he said, ‘Oh, please don’t put up a flag,’” she said in apparent reference to the judge. “I said, ‘I won’t do it, because I’m giving in to you. But when you’re free of this nonsense, I’m going to put this up and I’m going to text them every day, maybe every week I’ll be changing the flags.’”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Windsor says that Martha-Ann Alito’s critics are “persecuting her” and that she is serving as a “convenient stand-in for any religious person.”

“I’m German. I’m German. My heritage is German. You come for me, I’ll give it back to you,” said Martha-Ann Alito. will know.”

James Duff, executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, criticized the recordings in a statement Monday.

“We condemn the surreptitious recording of the judges at the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening,” Duff said. “Participants are informed that discussion of current cases, cases decided by current sitting judges, or a judge’s jurisprudence is strictly prohibited and may result in loss of membership in the Society.”