Rep. Jamie Raskin Calls for Justice Alito’s Recusal Following Controversial Phone Call with Trump

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is demanding that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recuse himself from a case involving President-elect Donald Trump following a “startling ex parte private phone call” between the two.

The call occurred just hours before Trump filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to delay his sentencing in a New York fraud case. According to Justice Alito, the conversation focused on recommending a former law clerk for a position in Trump’s incoming administration and did not touch on Trump’s legal filings, reported CNN.

Raskin, however, argued that the timing and nature of the call were enough to create the appearance of bias, necessitating Alito’s recusal. “Yesterday, we learned that President-elect Trump spoke to Justice Alito just hours before Trump asked the Supreme Court to halt his criminal sentencing in New York,” Raskin told The Washington Post.

“Justice Alito brushed off this startling ex parte private phone call and breach of judicial ethics by asserting that this perfectly timed conversation actually regarded his recommendation of a former clerk for an administration job. Especially when paired with his troubling past partisan ideological activity in favor of Trump.”

Raskin emphasized that judicial impartiality requires not only avoiding actual bias but also the appearance of it. “The mere act of having a personal telephone conversation with the president-elect, while he has active interests in matters currently pending before the court, is plainly sufficient to trigger a situation in which the Justice’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” he said.

The case in question involves Trump’s request to delay his sentencing in a New York criminal trial where he was convicted of fraud. Critics argue that even if the call between Trump and Alito did not explicitly address the case, the circumstances raise serious ethical concerns.

Justice Alito’s previous actions and decisions perceived as favoring Trump have also come under scrutiny. Raskin pointed to this context, asserting that the justice’s credibility could be further undermined by not stepping aside from this case.

The controversy underscores ongoing tensions around the perceived politicization of the judiciary and the ethical standards to which Supreme Court justices are held. As Trump’s legal battles continue, calls for transparency and impartiality in the nation’s highest court are likely to intensify.