Flag Associated With Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ Was Reportedly Spotted at Alito’s Vacation Home

(The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) — A flag flown by “stop the steal” protestors at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was reportedly displayed at the New Jersey beach vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

An “Appeal to Heaven” flag was spotted at Alito’s Long Beach Island home in July and September last year, according to The New York Times. The banner, also referred to as the “Pine Tree flag,” was photographed at the house on four occasions during those months, and also appears on a Google street view capture of the home from August, the Times reported.

The flag shows a green pine tree with the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” emblazoned over top of it. Though the phrase “appeal to heaven” was popularized by philosopher John Locke in the 17th century, and the flag with the phrase and the pine tree has been used by ships in the U.S. since the Revolutionary War, the “Appeal to Heaven” flag today is often associated with the “Stop the Steal” campaign, the Times says.

The flag is the second Jan. 6-related banner to be seen flying at an Alito-owned property. Last week, the Times reported that an inverted American flag had been spotted at Alito’s home in Virginia in 2021. Alito told the Times that that flag was hung by his wife following a dispute with a neighbor who had hung a vulgar anti-Trump flag.

Alito has not yet publicly addressed the Times’ report regarding the “Appeal to Heaven” flag seen at his New Jersey property, which the newspaper said he has owned since 2014.

The time period during which the “Appeal to Heaven” flag was spotted coincides with the time the Supreme Court began hearing a case focused on whether individuals who participated in the Jan. 6 riot should face obstruction charges. That case is pending before the Supreme Court, as is another case that would decide whether Trump is immune from election subversion charges.

A number of Republican members of Congress and state leaders have also displayed the flag recently, including Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Times reports. House Speaker Mike Johnson also faced criticism for his use of the flag, telling CNN Wednesday that “it’s George Washington’s flag” and that it has “nothing to do” with “Stop the Steal” protests.