Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is fighting to protect his personal social media accounts from being sold as part of the upcoming auction of his Infowars media platform. This follows his bankruptcy filing, where he owes over $1 billion to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Jones claims that selling his accounts would violate his privacy and deny him a chance at a fresh start. His lawyers argue that the accounts are not owned by Infowars or its parent company Free Speech Systems, but are controlled by him personally as part of his persona. The trustee overseeing the liquidation has asked a federal judge to include the social media accounts in the auctions scheduled for November and December.
A federal judge in Houston has delayed a decision on the matter, seeking clarity on a proposed order regarding the potential sale of Jones’ social media accounts. Jones’ legal team has argued that the trustee does not have the right to sell the accounts as property and warned potential buyers of potential lawsuits over ownership. The trustee is also seeking to sell off the rights to royalties from Jones’ book and video game featuring the controversial figure. Despite the impending loss of his company, Jones has vowed to continue his talk shows through alternative means, such as a new website or his personal social media accounts.
In court filings, the trustee argued that Jones’ social media accounts, including his Telegram, Gab, Parler, and other platforms, are used to post and promote Infowars content and have a significant following. The accounts are seen as valuable assets, drawing interest from multiple parties in buying them. Jones’ attorneys have stated that litigation would depend on who purchases the accounts, with certain parties potentially facing lawsuits in the future. Jones and his company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022, the same year the Sandy Hook families won defamation lawsuits against him for calling the school shooting a hoax.
During the civil trials, parents and children of the Sandy Hook victims testified to being harassed and threatened by Jones’ followers due to his conspiracy theories. The families won nearly $1.5 billion in damages, with Jones appealing the verdicts citing free speech rights. Despite initially claiming the shooting was a hoax, Jones has since acknowledged its occurrence. The judge overseeing the case is seeking to avoid creating litigation risks for potential buyers of Jones’ assets, including his social media accounts and other intellectual property. The ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities of protecting personal assets in high-profile bankruptcy cases, particularly when tied to controversial figures like Alex Jones.
