Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirmed that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump the day before Trump’s high court appearance but stated they did not discuss an emergency application the former president's legal team planned to file to delay the sentencing.
Alito mentioned that he was asked if he would accept a call from Trump regarding a position that his former clerk, William Levi, is being considered for, and he praised Levi’s 'outstanding resume.'
Alito clarified that the conversation with Trump did not involve the emergency application, and he was not aware of it at the time of their discussion. He emphasized that they did not touch upon any matters pending or potentially coming before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the President-elect.
Alito explained that it is common for him to provide recommendations for former clerks seeking employment opportunities, and this was a standard practice.
William Levi, who previously served in the Justice Department during the President-elect's first term and clerked for Alito from 2011 to 2012, was the subject of the conversation between Alito and Trump.
However, some critics have raised concerns about the timing of the call, labeling it as an 'unmistakable breach of protocol.' Gabe Roth, executive director of the nonpartisan group Fix the Court, expressed that no individual should engage in out-of-court communication with a judge or justice who is considering their case.
Alito maintained that he was unaware of the emergency request being prepared by the Trump legal team for the New York State case and reiterated that the call solely revolved around Levi. He affirmed that there was no discussion of any Trump-related legal matters – past, present, or future – during the conversation.
Furthermore, Alito clarified that there was no mention of any issues before the Court or potentially coming before the Court in their dialogue.
