“The clash between the wife of a conservative #SCOTUS justice & a couple…in their 30s & liberal…played out over months….the…shouting match…at the height of tensions over the #2020election…might have happened in any mixed political community in America.”
Amid the controversy, Ms. Baden said she was surprised to find herself playing a central role in Justice #Alito’s account….“I never saw the upside-down flag, never heard about it,” she said.
To better understand the clash, NYT interviewed Baden, her mother & her husband, as well as other neighbors, & reviewed the texts that Baden & her husband sent to friends after the episodes. Alito, who did not respond to questions for this article, has in recent wks given his own explanation….
There are some differences: For instance, Justice #Alito told Fox News that his wife hoisted the flag in response to Ms. Baden’s vulgar insult. However, a text message & the police call — corroborated by Fairfax County authorities — indicate that the name-calling took place on Feb. 15, weeks AFTER the inverted #flag was taken down.
“…Feb 15, the couple were pulling in trash bins when the #Alitos, …on a stroll, appeared. Mrs Alito addressed the pair by name, used an expletive &called them ‘fascists,’ the couple told NYT & said in texts at the time.Justice #Alito remained silent, they added….
“That was when Baden snapped….She does not remember her precise words, but recalls something like: How dare you behave this way? You’ve been harassing us, over signs. You represent the highest court in the land. Shame on you.”