Samuel Alito Rejects Recusal After Fossil Fuel Gain Report

Associate Justice Samuel Alito rejected requests to recuse himself from an upcoming climate change lawsuit after a financial analysis revealed he gained between $390,000 and $2.9 million from fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024. The watchdog group Court Accountability reported that these gains primarily came from an inheritance of ExxonMobil stock and mineral rights in Grady County, Oklahoma, held by Alito's wife.

The controversy comes as the Supreme Court prepares for October 5 oral arguments in a case involving Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil. The companies argue that federal law prohibits subnational governments from suing fossil fuel producers over climate change. Alito and the Supreme Court have dismissed calls for recusal, stating that the justice does not hold stock in the specific companies named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Court Accountability and other advocacy groups have called for a Senate investigation, arguing that Alito's financial ties to the industry compromise his impartiality. Lisa Graves, co-founder of Court Accountability, asserted that Alito's wealth creates a conflict of interest regardless of whether he currently holds specific company stock.