In a recent ruling, a US bankruptcy judge has blocked the acquisition of Alex Jones's controversial Infowars website by spoof news organization The Onion. This decision was made after a meticulous two-day hearing led by Judge Christopher Lopez, who determined that the auction for Infowars failed to yield the best potential bids. Despite Jones's allegations of "collusion" during the bidding process, the judge dismissed these claims as unfounded.
The Onion's bid for Infowars was reportedly supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who have been awarded a staggering $1.5 billion in damages against Jones for his dissemination of false information surrounding the tragic event. Judge Lopez pointed out that a significant oversight occurred during the auction, stating that the bankruptcy trustee responsible for administering the sale made a "good-faith error." He noted that rather than swiftly soliciting final offers, the process should have invited further bidding competition between The Onion and another business linked to Jones’s supplement empire.
Judge Lopez emphasized that the auction should have been reopened to allow a more competitive environment. This reflects the complex financial and legal troubles facing Jones, a once-prominent figure who gained notoriety for broadcasting speculative and often misleading theories. Infowars generates much of its revenue through online sales of health products, as Jones's financial woes largely stemmed from his inflammatory comments made after the December 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, where 20 children and six staff members lost their lives.
Jones propagated various conspiracy theories, suggesting that the Sandy Hook attack was fabricated and made false statements that led to harassment of the victims' families. Although he later admitted that the event was real, his earlier assertions resulted in severe legal repercussions. Following a bankruptcy declaration in 2022, a court ordered the liquidation of Jones's assets—including multi-million dollar properties and luxury items—amounting to approximately $8.6 million. This case remains a focal point of ongoing legal battles and public discourse surrounding misinformation and its repercussions.
