Justice Alito says he spoke with Trump day before hush-money filing about former clerk

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recently confirmed in an interview with Fox News that he had a conversation with President-elect Donald Trump the day before Trump’s court appearance. However, Alito made it clear that they did not discuss any emergency applications related to the former president’s legal team. Alito mentioned that the purpose of the call was for Trump to inquire about the qualifications of William Levi, Alito’s former clerk, for a potential government position. Alito praised Levi’s exceptional resume and agreed to discuss the matter with Trump.

During the conversation, Alito emphasized that they did not touch upon the emergency application that would later be filed by Trump’s legal team to delay sentencing. He stated that he was not even aware of such an application at the time of the discussion. Alito also clarified that they did not discuss any matters that were pending or could potentially come before the Supreme Court, including past decisions involving the President-elect.

Alito explained that it is a common practice for him to provide recommendations for former clerks seeking employment opportunities. William Levi, who previously worked in the Justice Department during Trump’s first term and clerked for Alito from 2011 to 2012, had sought Alito’s endorsement for a government position.

The revelation of Alito’s conversation with Trump has raised concerns among some who view it as a breach of protocol. Gabe Roth, the executive director of Fix the Court, a nonpartisan organization, criticized the out-of-court communication between a judge or justice and a party involved in a case being considered by the court.

Alito reiterated that the call with Trump was solely focused on Levi’s credentials and did not touch upon any legal matters involving Trump. He emphasized that there was no discussion of issues before the Court or any potential future cases. ABC News initially reported on the call between Trump and Alito.

In conclusion, Alito’s discussion with Trump regarding William Levi’s qualifications for a government position has sparked debate over the boundaries of communication between judges and parties involved in legal cases. Alito maintains that the conversation was limited to Levi’s credentials and did not involve any discussions related to Trump’s legal matters.