The families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are pushing for a federal bankruptcy judge to appoint a trustee to safeguard assets and prevent further loss as conspiracy theorist Alex Jones attempts to liquidate his wealth to pay off a large debt owed to them in defamation verdicts. They accuse Jones, the founder of Infowars, of erratic behavior and attempting to divert assets from his media company, Free Speech Systems, for his own benefit. The families won lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas, collectively being awarded $1.5 billion in damages after Jones repeatedly suggested that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.
Jones has been accused of trying to use his company’s assets to support his future business operations, particularly through funneling money to an entity owned by his father. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but a judge ruled that he cannot use bankruptcy to avoid paying the debt. His lawyers have now requested to convert his bankruptcy filing into Chapter 7 liquidation, which the families of the victims support in order to see how he can fulfill his financial obligations to them. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston is set to hear the case regarding Jones’ personal assets and Free Speech Systems on Friday.
During his trial in Texas in 2022, Jones blamed corporate media for misrepresenting him but did not provide specific details. He has indicated on his show that Infowars, which has been a platform for his incendiary rhetoric over the years, will end as his audience knows it in the coming days. The families of the Sandy Hook victims see Jones’ fulfilling his financial obligations as a form of meaningful accountability after his defamatory statements following the tragic shooting in 2012.
Jones has claimed to have about $9 million in personal assets, with his only other source of income being the sale of nutritional supplements. The families contend that his attempts to transfer assets to his father’s entity while using the Infowars brand name for this purpose are intentional value destruction. They recognize the importance of ensuring that Jones fulfills his obligations to them, and they believe that the appointment of a trustee is necessary to prevent further loss and safeguard assets during the bankruptcy proceedings.
The families have been pursuing legal action against Jones to hold him accountable for the harm caused by his false claims regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy. They are determined to see justice served and are supportive of the efforts to ensure that Jones pays the damages owed to them. With the upcoming court hearing on Friday, they hope that the bankruptcy judge will take the necessary steps to address their concerns and uphold the integrity of the legal system in holding individuals accountable for their actions.
