Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito found himself in the spotlight recently when an upside-down American flag was spotted flying outside his house. This flag, a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement, seemed to express sympathy with Donald Trump supporters who believed the 2020 election was stolen. However, Alito quickly distanced himself from the flag, stating that his wife, Martha-Ann, had placed it in response to a neighbor’s offensive language on yard signs.
While the flag incident may seem trivial, it raises questions about the involvement of spouses in political matters. This “Mrs. defense” is not new in politics, as seen in cases like former Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife Margaret, who were accused of misusing campaign funds. The defense claimed that Margaret handled the finances, leading to guilty pleas from both and eventual pardons by Trump.
The trend continues with Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda, who are facing bribery charges. Prosecutors allege that payments to the couple were laundered through sham consulting contracts owned by Mrs. Cuellar. This pattern of spouses being implicated in political scandals extends to former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen, who were convicted of public corruption.
The “Mrs. defense” may also be used by powerful women, as seen in the case of Rep. Cori Bush, who is under investigation for misusing funds to pay her husband for security services. This trend of spouses taking the blame, whether deserved or not, highlights the complexities of marriage and politics in the United States.