Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirms call with former President Trump, clarifying no discussion of pending cases took place.
At a Glance
- Justice Alito confirmed taking a call from Donald Trump before Trump’s Supreme Court request
- The call was about Trump’s qualifications for a government position, not legal matters
- Trump filed an emergency application to halt proceedings in his hush money case
- Alito emphasized no pending or future Supreme Court cases were discussed
- The Supreme Court has not yet responded to Trump’s request
Justice Alito Addresses Trump Call Amid Legal Speculation
In a move to maintain judicial transparency, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has publicly addressed recent speculation surrounding his communication with former President Donald Trump. Alito confirmed that he did indeed speak with Trump, but he was explicit in stating that their conversation did not involve any pending legal matters or potential future cases before the Supreme Court.
The timing of this revelation is particularly significant as it comes in the wake of Trump’s recent emergency application to the Supreme Court. The president-elect is seeking to halt legal proceedings in his hush money case, arguing for presidential immunity to prevent what his lawyers claim could be harmful to the presidency and federal government operations.
Justice Samuel Alito says he took a phone call from Donald Trump one day before the president-elect asked the Supreme Court to halt his upcoming sentencing, but insisted that the case was not discussed. https://t.co/N0kWSSMIbH
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 9, 2025
Clarifying the Nature of the Conversation
Justice Alito provided details about the nature of his conversation with Trump, stating that it was focused on Trump’s qualifications for a government position. William Levi, a former clerk for Alito, had initially reached out to the justice regarding the call.
Alito himself confirmed the conversation, stating, “I agreed to discuss this matter with President-elect Trump, and he called me yesterday afternoon.” The justice was adamant in his assertion that the conversation did not veer into any territory related to current or potential future Supreme Court cases.
Upholding Judicial Integrity
This clarification comes at a crucial time, as the Supreme Court has yet to respond to Trump’s emergency application. Previously, both a New York judge and an appeals court rejected Trump’s request to block the sentencing in his hush money case. As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, Alito’s statement serves as a reminder of the importance of an impartial judiciary in upholding the principles of democracy and the separation of powers.
