Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has agreed to liquidate his personal assets in order to satisfy the demands of the families of Sandy Hook victims, to whom he owes over $1.5 billion in damages for his lies about the 2012 school massacre. This move paves the way for a future in which Jones may no longer own Infowars, the conspiracy empire he founded in the late 1990s, through which he has spread vile lies and conspiracy theories while enriching himself with millions of dollars.
Jones had previously resisted converting his personal bankruptcy into a Chapter 7 liquidation but ultimately gave in to mounting legal pressure and the demands of the Sandy Hook families, who have not yet received any compensation from him despite court rulings finding him liable for defamation and emotional distress. His lawyers stated that there was no reasonable prospect for a successful reorganization and that continuing down that path would only lead to additional expenses for Jones.
The legal maneuver to convert Jones’ bankruptcy case to Chapter 7 means that his ownership in Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, will likely be sold. This move is expected to hasten the end of the bankruptcies and facilitate the liquidation of Jones’ assets. Jones has technically not controlled the Infowars business for some time as the company has also filed for bankruptcy protection, putting its operations under the court-appointed supervision of a restructuring officer.
A hearing has been scheduled for the following week to determine the fate of Free Speech Systems’ bankruptcy. Regardless of the outcome in that case, the liquidation of Jones’ personal assets sets the stage for a court-appointed trustee to sell his stake in Infowars. This does not necessarily mean that Infowars will cease to exist, as the trustee could potentially sell the business to another owner.
Representatives for Jones did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. The move to liquidate his personal assets represents a significant development in the long-standing legal battle between Jones and the families of Sandy Hook victims, as they seek justice and compensation for the harm caused by his false claims about the tragedy. The outcome of the liquidation process will have far-reaching implications for Jones and the future of Infowars.
