In a recent development, InfoWars founder Alex Jones has requested a court to convert his personal bankruptcy filing into a Chapter 7 liquidation, in response to legal pressure from the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre victims seeking $1.5 billion in damages. Jones’ lawyers stated that there was no reasonable prospect for successful reorganization of his debts, leading to the decision to opt for liquidation. This move would involve Jones relinquishing control of InfoWars and its parent company Free Speech Systems.
Last week, Free Speech Systems also filed for bankruptcy protection and is currently undergoing restructuring. The families of the Sandy Hook victims filed an emergency motion urging the bankruptcy court to force the company into liquidation. Despite this, the bankruptcy judge overseeing the case has granted Jones until June 14 to continue running the business, with a hearing scheduled for the following Friday. Jones expressed emotions on his show, accusing the “deep state” of attempting to shut down his program, despite the lack of evidence to support his claims.
The families of the Sandy Hook victims achieved success in their defamation lawsuit against Jones in Connecticut and Texas in 2022. The tragic mass shooting in 2012 claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including 20 young children. Jones used his platform to propagate baseless conspiracy theories, asserting that the shooting was staged and the victims’ families were crisis actors. Following a court order to pay $1.5 billion in damages to the families, Jones and Free Speech Systems sought bankruptcy protection. However, their proposal to pay the families at least $55 million over a decade was unanimously rejected by the families.
Court filings revealed that InfoWars’ store generated $165 million in revenue from merchandise sales between September 2015 and the end of 2018. Jones’ decision to pursue liquidation indicates a significant shift in his financial situation and the future of InfoWars and Free Speech Systems. The ongoing legal battle with the families of the Sandy Hook victims underscores the consequences of spreading false information and the impact it can have on those affected by tragedy. As the case continues to unfold, the outcome of Jones’ bankruptcy filing and the pending court hearings will shape the next chapter in this high-profile legal saga.
