Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' media platform, InfoWars, is set to be sold off in pieces to pay the more than $1 billion in damages awarded to families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The auctions are expected to begin in November, following an order that US Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez plans to approve.
The liquidation is part of efforts to make Jones pay the families, who successfully sued him for defamation and emotional distress after he called the 2012 school massacre a hoax. Jones repeatedly claimed that the tragedy was staged by "crisis actors" to push gun control laws. In the trials, parents and children of the victims described the harassment they faced from Jones’ followers, some even threatening to desecrate graves.
Jones has acknowledged that the shooting did occur but maintains his appeal, arguing that his free speech rights were violated. He also vowed to continue his talk shows via alternative platforms, suggesting that his supporters could buy InfoWars' assets and allow him to work under the brand.
The liquidation process will include intellectual property such as trademarks, social media accounts, and websites. However, Jones' personal social media accounts, including his X platform account, are not part of the initial auction. Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families hope the sale of InfoWars will bring them closer to holding Jones accountable for the harm his conspiracies caused.
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