Key Takeaways
- • Justice Samuel Alito disclosed a previously undisclosed 2008 private plane trip to Alaska with billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Tuesday, characterizing the seat as one that "would have otherwise been vacant" and thus imposing no extra cost.
- • Alito argued the trip and Alaska lodge accommodations fell under a federal ethics exception for "personal hospitality" and did not require disclosure on his 2008 financial forms, despite the lodge charging more than $1,000 per day and serving approximately 20 guests.
- • The justice rejected ProPublica's implicit suggestion that he should have recused himself from cases involving Singer-connected entities, claiming his interactions with Singer were limited to "brief and casual comments" at larger events and "small talk" during the 2008 fishing trip, and that he was unaware Singer had litigation interests before the Supreme Court.
- • Alito's op-ed represents an unusual defensive posture for a sitting Supreme Court justice and comes in response to ProPublica inquiries that have not yet been published, signaling broader ethics scrutiny affecting multiple justices across the Court.
Summary
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday defending his relationship with billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer and revealing a 2008 private plane trip to Alaska that had not been previously disclosed. The op-ed was written in response to a series of questions from ProPublica reporters who gave Alito until noon Tuesday to respond. Alito characterized ProPublica's inquiries as "charges" despite the outlet having not yet published its reporting on the matter.
According to Alito's account, Singer offered him a seat on a private flight to Alaska for a fishing trip, with Alito arguing that the seat "would have otherwise been vacant" and therefore imposed no additional cost on Singer. Alito claimed the trip and associated accommodations fell under a federal ethics exception for "personal hospitality" and thus did not require disclosure on his 2008 ethics forms. During the three-night stay, Alito lodged at the King Salmon Lodge—a facility Alito described as "comfortable but rustic" where approximately 20 guests were served "homestyle fare." Public reports indicate the lodge charged more than $1,000 per day, though Alito did not reference this figure in his op-ed. The lodge has since been sold, according to Alito's statement.
Alito also addressed ProPublica's apparent suggestion that he should have recused himself from Supreme Court cases involving entities connected to Singer. Alito rejected this characterization, asserting that his interactions with Singer consisted only of "brief and casual comments" at larger events and "small talk" during the 2008 fishing trip. The justice further claimed he was unaware that Singer had any litigation interests before the Supreme Court. The op-ed represents an unusual defensive publication for a sitting Supreme Court justice and comes as multiple justices face increasing ethics scrutiny regarding undisclosed trips and relationships with wealthy individuals.
According to Alito's account, Singer offered him a seat on a private flight to Alaska for a fishing trip, with Alito arguing that the seat "would have otherwise been vacant" and therefore imposed no additional cost on Singer. Alito claimed the trip and associated accommodations fell under a federal ethics exception for "personal hospitality" and thus did not require disclosure on his 2008 ethics forms. During the three-night stay, Alito lodged at the King Salmon Lodge—a facility Alito described as "comfortable but rustic" where approximately 20 guests were served "homestyle fare." Public reports indicate the lodge charged more than $1,000 per day, though Alito did not reference this figure in his op-ed. The lodge has since been sold, according to Alito's statement.
Alito also addressed ProPublica's apparent suggestion that he should have recused himself from Supreme Court cases involving entities connected to Singer. Alito rejected this characterization, asserting that his interactions with Singer consisted only of "brief and casual comments" at larger events and "small talk" during the 2008 fishing trip. The justice further claimed he was unaware that Singer had any litigation interests before the Supreme Court. The op-ed represents an unusual defensive publication for a sitting Supreme Court justice and comes as multiple justices face increasing ethics scrutiny regarding undisclosed trips and relationships with wealthy individuals.
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