'Stunned': Justice Alito melts down as colleagues buck Trump

[riversedge]

Source: msn




Story by Naomi LaChance • 3h •

The Supreme Court refused to let President Donald Trump freeze billions in foreign aid. In his dissent, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that he was “stunned” that the court would not allow Trump’s order to stand, Law & Crime reported Wednesday.

The court issued a 5-4 ruling denying the Trump administration’s request to stop an order from a federal judge to pay almost $2 million in foreign aid funding on work that is already done. Alito called the judge’s decision “an act of judicial hubris.”


“Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars?”Alito wrote. “The answer to that question should be an emphatic ‘No,’ but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned.”

Trump froze the funds, which are from USAID and the State Department, as he seeks to shrink the federal government. Nonprofit groups sued, arguing that the move went above Congress’ authority. Trump has since dismantled USAID.

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“The unsigned order does not actually require the Trump administration to immediately make up to $2 billion in foreign aid payments; it merely clears the way for the district court to compel those payments, presumably if it is more specific about the contracts that have to be honored,” said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center.




Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/stunned-justice-alito-melts-down-as-colleagues-buck-trump/ar-AA1AjzWF?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=cba99d479639432ab1ca92a14da3e0c1&ei=6

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Damn. looks like Trump has the opportunity to delay delay delay AGAIN. damn

[Bluetus]

1. Alito is full of shit. Is he really that stupid?

Last edited Wed Mar 5, 2025, 05:56 PM - Edit history (1)

This was not a decision by "a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction". This was a decision by the SCOTUS 5-4. The fact that they accepted the lower court's legal analysis and opinion, rather than writing their own, indicates they believed the lower court got it right. And by accepting the lower court position, that indicates they had a certain amount of appreciation for the importance of timely payment. They could have taken 6 months to write essentially the same opinion themselves, but affirmatively (are we still allowed to say the word "affirmative"?) decided to endorse the lower court's opinion.

[MLWR]

3. It could be that

he's just a plain old common asshole.

[johnnyfins]

24. Notice how he says

"And probably lose forever"

Dickhead, that's why it's called AID.

He is pissed that he is not a billionaire. That wife of his prolly reminds him of it every hour. Greedy, entitled scumbags.

[calimary]

41. HAH! Your last sentence says A LOT.

I bet the conversations in that bedroom after hours are damn near lethal.

[johnnyfins]

65. Yep

The home at the beach and all the other perks are not enough. Nothing will ever be enough for them.

[Blasphemer]

8. Evil, not stupid. nt

[meow2u3]

17. He's an Opus Dei fanatic blinded by ideological reactionary narcissism

He's one of those guys on a crusade to force American to abide by a long bygone era where men are men and women are persecuted for existing. All under the cloak of religion.

[Mr. Mustard 2023]

55. Precisely.

[WokeAintWhatIAm]

20. Justice didn't go Blind, they put her eyes out.

Alito's problem is that he fails to acknowledge that the funding he is describing as ordered by a judge, is incorrect.
He is siding with the understanding the funding was designated by the U.S. Congress under Article I. Regardless of their affinity for Trump and Aversion to common rights, responsibilities and checks - The Legislative Branch is always #1, The Executive is forever #2. Pun is explicitly intended.

[spooky3]

28. Mary McCord on MSNBC pointed out that Alito contradicted his own opinions

In a prior case.

No surprise. The guy has zero ethics and twists his rationale to produce the outcome he wants.

[Grins]

61. Odd, also, that "Strip-Search Sammy" had no problem...

Alito after the decision: "Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States?"

"Strip-Search Sammy" had no problem when "a single district-court judge," shopped by the plaintiffs, in another court that "lacked jurisdiction," in a case laden with lies and contradictions, overturned the decisions by another federal agency in a sweeping move that affected MILLIONS of Americans.

That Case: Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, No. 2:22-cv-00223-Z
The culprit, to the judge: Mifepristone

[Trust_Reality]

31. Alito is so arrogant, narrow minded, and out of touch, it makes his stupid.

[Cha]

36. Alito is a Giant Crock of Shit.. GASLIT Lies Spew from his ugly mouth.

[creon]

40. Basically, yes.

He is locked into doctrines unrelated to objective reality

[bluestarone]

54. He has a tRUMP heart and a tRUMP brain

THAT tells the whole story!!

[Cheezoholic]

2. Fuck you Asslito n/t

[Farmer-Rick]

4. Alito is a big idiot

This is about what part of government establishes and controls funding. Here's a big fat hint Alito:

The US Constitution does not give the executive branch that power if the purse.

"U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 9, clause 7
Congress—and in particular, the House of Representatives—is invested with the “power of the purse,” the ability to tax and spend public money for the national government."

[Bluetus]

10. Just to be clear

the language you cited is the common interpretation, but it is not the language literally in the Constitution.

The original language Section 9 is:

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

And in Article I Section 7:

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Appropriations bills (i.e. spending money) can actually originate in either House and commonly are developed simultaneously in both houses, then meet in a reconciliation process after passing their house of origin.

But either way, those powers lie COMPLETELY in the Congress, other than the President's veto power. Other than the veto, the President has no authority to withhold or re-direct the finds except as Congress delegates in law.

[reACTIONary]

19. To complete the picture...

.. don't you have to include the anti impoundment legislation?

[Bluetus]

32. Yes.

That was passed in 1974 and has been mostly observed since. Basically it says that if Congress appropriates it, the Executive branch has to spend it. Reagan was always whining about the "Line item veto", which he wanted, in order to essentially ignore the Constitution and Congress' power of the purse.

Now Trump is ignoring that on everything and nobody in Congress even seems to care.

It is particularly insidious in Trump's case. I am willing to give Reagan's ghost the benefit of the doubt that Reagan wanted that power to genuinely gut out things he thought were wasteful. That doesn't make it right because the founders explicitly decided that the Congress should have this power, rather than one single king. Nonetheless, I will assume Reagan had mostly honorable intentions.

But with Trump, we know why he wants it. EVERYTHING he does is transactions. He sells pardons. He sells relief from tariffs. And he wants to block payouts until people pay tribute to him personally. It is just raging graft in the case of Trump and Musk. Musk's graft comes from rigging contracts. Trump's comes from extortion, but it amounts to the same thing.

[spooky3]

44. Thanks to you and other legal experts for helping us understand! nt

[Bluetus]

46. I am not a lawyer or constitutional scholar.

IOW, don't do anything risky based on my comments. But I do think the comments on this thread (mine and others) are essentially correct.

[GiqueCee]

53. You give Reagan...

... far, FAR more credit than he deserves. He was an incompetent fraud and a pathological liar. He was single-handedly responsible for our current border crisis when he illegally funded and trained the "death squads" that tore Central America apart. The list of his obscene transgressions is long, and an embarrassing condemnation of American foreign policy in the 80s.

[Farmer-Rick]

57. Yeah, it's not the Constitution

I should have put the author on it. When I get some time I will look up the quote and it's author.

[tanyev]

5. Maybe you'd better find some smelling salts and retire, Sam.

It’s not good for the ticker to be so stunned at your age.

[Tarzanrock]

6. Just some fucking moron ...

... too fucking stupid to understand basic remedial Federal Civil Procedure.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Typo by Alternet/MSN - should be "pay almost $2 billion", not "million". For work already done?

Jesus, a Supreme Court judge is saying it's fine for the US government to defraud people.

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/i-am-stunned-justice-alito-slams-colleagues-refusal-to-let-trump-keep-billions-in-foreign-aid-frozen-as-rewarding-an-act-of-judicial-hubris/

"Alito asserted that Ali’s order directing the government to pay money owed for work already completed was barred by sovereign immunity, which bars suits from private parties seeking to impose liability that must be paid from public funds."

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

48. Imposed liability or assumed liability?

Did the Government contract for the services/goods? Were the services/goods provided? If so, why shouldn't we pay for what we ordered and received?

We're not Trump after all, a notorious contract denier.

[FakeNoose]

9. Is he really "stunned"? I doubt it

This is just another day at the office for Sam Alito. He's probably hoping to avoid getting mean tweets and nasty-grams from the MAGA-cult. No biggie. Sammy already has his ultra-conservative street creds.

[Vinca]

11. So Alito thinks if he runs up his credit card bill and then decides he doesn't want to pay that's okay?

Work or goods were ordered and delivered and then Trump went into his "stiff the average guy" mode. He's a grifter. Can't Alito see that????

[travelingthrulife]

12. So Alito doesn't know how federal funding works?

He doesn't know that this is a Congressional decision?

[bluestarone]

13. Amazing how these rich creeps think.

Without a brain thinking.

[JohnnyRingo]

14. I believe Roberts will prove to be Trump's undoing

It's his court and a direct reflection on him if there's corruption. This isn't the 1st time Roberts went against Trump and his wing nut court members.
I'm hoping it's gone about far enough to him, after all if he paves the way for a unitarian government, why would Trump need a Supreme Court?

Trump personally thanking Roberts and implying he'll return the "favor" might have been just the kick in the ass Roberts needs. I'll guarantee He does not think of himself as an equal to Trump in any way. Ego.

[mackdaddy]

15. Maybe Alito missed those law classes on Contract Law?

So contacts with the US government should be just ignored at the whim of the Dear Leader, even after the products and services are delivered?

[PlanetBev]

16. Not as stunned as I've been by your non-stop cruelty

Hey, Justice Anus, how do you think I felt when you re-enslaved women on June, 24, 2022?

[Scalded Nun]

18. He will twist things 180 degrees over and over to suit his needs.

He is, as is his hero (Trump) a traitor to this country and an enemy of the state. The constitution means nothing more to him than does a bug on his windshield.

Evil does not begin to describe him.

[wolfie001]

21. Scrolito and his wife can go stuff it sideways

Upside down flag when fatso lost by 7 million votes? F6ck the hell off.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

22. Alito is a lawless freak.

There should be some kind of Golden Kangaroo award given to "judges" who were appointed under illegal circumstances and consistently ignore the law, and he has deserved one every year I've known his name.

[Figarosmom]

23. I wonder how alito feels

About catholic relief charity services? Does he think they are wasting their money too?

[Dave Bowman]

27. Good point. 👍

[Demovictory9]

25. Alito is so corrupt

[johnnyfins]

26. He is just a DICK

[tishaLA]

29. Wasn't the money appropriated by Congress?

And then signed into law? If so, is Alito just saying to hell with the third branch of government?

[PortTack]

33. That was my thought. Does he not understand how our government works? Or is it that he thinks either he or

The president can just do whatever the hell they want?

[Skittles]

35. um - YES

that is why Trump stacked the SC with repuke hacks

[barbtries]

30. JFC.

do none of these magats, authoritarians, and kakistocrats understand that the money they want to claw away for their fucking tax breaks not only saves lives abroad, but is an investment in the security of the US?!

not to mention how much of it has already been spent and is now being wasted on nothing, and people are already dying.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

34. As one who was raised Catholic, I thought one always paid their debts.

Was Pope Alito hoping for a new decree?

[Skittles]

37. uh oh

the Supreme Court going against Project 2025? Interesting...............

[ProudMNDemocrat]

38. Geeze Louise, Sam!

Last edited Thu Mar 6, 2025, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)

Would you so much as to blow a gasket if a 6-3 decision forbids tRump from circumventing the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution regarding free speech, peaceful assembly, and protesting the Government?

Wanna bet, he would side with DICKtator Donnie on ripping apart ALL of the Constitution as written.

[live love laugh]

39. He REALLY believes the Supreme part doesn't he? POS 💩

[mntleo2]

42. Po' po' wittle baybee has a poopy dypee

Waaaahhhhh, waaahhhh waaahh! :

[oasis]

43. You're not allowed to say "no" to His Majesty.

It’s just not done.

[V850i]

45. Another SC bone to fool the media and the public into thinking they are calling balls and strikes

This SC occasionally rules in favor of something the left wants but it is always on things that either a) don't really matter in the scheme of things or b) there will be another ruling in short order that will make the bone rule no longer meaningful. They all know how the game is being played today. Heck after the speech last night T went right over to Roberts and thanked him, said he would not forget what he had done and patted him on the shoulder. What could he possibly be thanking him for? Dinner over the weekend? It was totally the cray cray immunity decision. T no longer has to try to "ensure the laws are faithfully executed", the democrats should propose a constitutional amendment to remove that line from the Constitution and insert the SC Immunity decision in there.

[BlueMTexpat]

47. Alito should return

Last edited Fri Mar 7, 2025, 09:21 AM - Edit history (1)

to the pre-US 18th century where he belongs!

[UpInArms]

51. Naaah

He just needs to be composting worms

[BComplex]

49. We REALLY need to start protesting Alito and Thomas. Alito is fucking nuts, and Thomas is as crooked as a dog's hind leg

They have shown that they are NOT there to support the constitution in any way shape or form. They are there to push their Heritage Foundation benefactors' agendas. They are a pox on America.

[FakeNoose]

59. I loved how JD Vance's family skiing vacation was ruined in Vermont

There needs to be a lot more of that, and target certain SCOTUS justices who are continually trampling on the Constitution.

[BComplex]

62. I'm with you! We also need to target the representatives in congress who need to vote against all the republican

shit that they're trying to pass. We only need to put the fear of Gawd into 3 of them to let them know we don't want what the republican magats are selling.

[ck4829]

50. Shame he didn't get spectral evidence from Matthew Hale to see this coming

[GiqueCee]

52. Alito talks about hubris...

... I don't care what you say, THAT is hilarious!
Alito is, hands down and going away, the worst Supreme Court justice in living memory.

[Jilly_in_VA]

58. Shut up, Sammy, you slimeball

You ain't Chief Justice and ain't ever gonna be. And you don't run the other justices, either, except maybe Clarence, who's a stooge.

[Grins]

60. The killer line!

"...to pay almost $2 million in foreign aid funding on work that is already done."

The work completed - don't pay the contractors. Can't get any more Trumpy than that!

[Mysterian]

63. Will he fly his flag upside down again?

What a crazed piece of garbage. Totally unqualified to be a lawyer at any level, let alone a justice on our highest court.

[Martin68]

64. I'm beginning to wonder if Alito is in the early stages of dementia. He's arguing against the most basic tenets

of contract law, and clearly language in the Constitution. He has lost his mind. I can imagine cynically voting in a way to help the Trump administration, but to get emotional and declare himself "stunned" is a bit much.

[iemanja]

66. Congress does

Playing the idiot doesn’t make your argument convincing, you anti-democratic terrorist, Alito.