A federal judge has ordered the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones′ personal assets and is still deciding on the liquidation of his company’s separate bankruptcy case. The decision could determine the future of his Infowars media platform, as Jones owes $1.5 billion for falsely claiming that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Judge Christopher Lopez approved converting Jones’ proposed personal bankruptcy reorganization to a liquidation. He is still set to rule on whether Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, should also be liquidated. Many of Jones’ personal assets will be sold off, but he is expected to keep his primary home in the Austin area and some other belongings that are exempt from bankruptcy liquidation. Jones has already moved to sell his Texas ranch and other assets to help pay off debts.
Jones did not have a significant reaction after the judge issued the order about his personal assets. He has been informing his web viewers and radio listeners that Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, is on the verge of being shut down due to the bankruptcy. Jones has been urging his followers to download videos from his online archive to preserve them and pointing them to a new website to continue buying the dietary supplements he sells on his show. Jones and Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 after losing lawsuits filed by victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012. The families of the victims have been seeking liquidation to enforce the judgments against Jones and prevent him from inflicting further harm.
The Sandy Hook families testifed about being harassed and receiving threats from Jones’ followers, who claimed that the shooting never happened and that their children did not exist. The families argued that Jones’ comments and actions have inflicted mass harm and caused trauma. The companies filed for bankruptcy reorganization protection, intending to allow Infowars to continue operating while paying the families with revenues from the show. However, disagreements about the final plan led Jones to file for permission to switch his personal bankruptcy to a liquidation. The families in the Connecticut lawsuit have requested that Free Speech Systems’ separate bankruptcy case also be converted to a liquidation, while the parents in the Texas lawsuit have requested the case be dismissed.
Jones has since acknowledged that the Sandy Hook shooting happened but has claimed that Democrats and the “deep state” are conspiring to shut down his companies and restrict his free speech rights. He also alleges that the Sandy Hook families are being used as pawns in a conspiracy. Financial statements filed in the bankruptcy court show that Jones has about $9 million in assets, including his home and real estate. Free Speech Systems, which employs 44 people, made nearly $3.2 million in April but has significant expenses. The families have a pending lawsuit in Texas, accusing Jones of diverting and hiding millions of dollars, which he denies. The decision on the liquidation of Jones’ assets and company will have a significant impact on the future of Infowars and Jones’ operations.
