The US Supreme Court jurist Samuel Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann, has reportedly admitted that an upside-down American flag at the couple’s home after the attack on Capitol Hill attack was “an international signal of distress”, as senior Democrats seek the judge’s recusal from January 6’s cases.

In an interview with the Washington Post, reported on Saturday, she claimed the action was taken in response to a neighbourhood dispute. The flag had been run up their flagpole not long after supporters of former US president Donald Trump attacked the government seat in the capital city.

According to Reuters, the flag should be displayed upside down only “as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property”. But in recent times, such an action is often associated with activists making an extremist sign of protest. It was adopted by some on the far right amid efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election won by Joe Biden.

The revelation of the flag display has triggered calls for Justice Alito to recuse himself from any cases before the Supreme Court related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol or Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse have written to Chief Justice Roberts requesting a meeting to discuss court ethics and ensure Alito’s recusal.

“The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors … It was not clear then that the argument was rooted in politics,” the news outlet said.

Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that the upside down flew at Justice Alito’s home while the SC was considering an election case early in 2021. Supporters of Trump have described it as a “Stop the Steal” symbol.

Adding to the controversy, the Times has reported that another flag associated with the far right, known as the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, was flying above a holiday home of the Alitos’ in New Jersey last year.

The Supreme Court is currently considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, and Alito’s participation in such cases has drawn criticism from Democrats who argue he has a conflict of interest.

The court has so far declined to comment on the flag displays or Alito’s involvement in the January 6 related cases.

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Many rivals of incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan have linked the January 6 incident with the May 9 riots when several people vandalised state buildings and military installations following his arrest in a graft case.

But the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has demanded a judicial inquiry into the events, claiming that the party had no role in the riots. Earlier this month, journalist Javed Chaudhry said more cases related to the May 9 riots would be filed against Khan in the near future.

“Courts will not be able to give him relief and there will be legislation before it,” he said in an interview with Shaukat Piracha on his show Rubaroo aired on Aaj News on May 10.