ALITO IN ALTERCATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ENTERING CONFIRMATION HEARING, VOWS TO BREAK LEGS OF "PAPARAZZI SCUM"WASHINGTON - Judge Samuel Alito was accused of assaulting an US Magazine photographer as he attempted to enter the Senate Judiciary Conference Room this morning. Alito, who pushed through a phalanx of reporters with a terse "get lost, you creeps," as he bounded up the steps and into the building, allegedly became enraged when he spotted several federal judiciary paparazzi lurking behind a statue of Judge Rufus Peckham.
When the photographers tried to take his picture, witnesses said Alito grabbed the camera of one photographer and threw it to the ground, stomping on it repeatedly and breaking it into several pieces. As the other photographers continued taking his picture, a sneering Alito reached into his breast pocket. Pulling out a large wad of bills, he handed the money to his long-time tipstaff Izzy Jillo and told him to "take care of this scum. Break their legs." Jillo and Alito then began battering photographer Al Eisenstadt Jr. about the face and neck with their fists. Alito then entered the conference room, but before closing the door he warned reporters and photographers covering the fight that he "would hurt" anybody who got in his way again. The hearings continue this morning.
