The sale of Alex Jones's Infowars website to the satirical news platform The Onion has been officially blocked by a US bankruptcy judge. Following a two-day evaluation, Judge Christopher Lopez determined that the previous auction yielded bids that were less than optimal. He also dismissed Jones's accusations of "collusion" during the bidding process.
The Onion's bid was reportedly supported by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who had secured a $1.5 billion defamation judgment against Jones due to his dissemination of false information regarding the tragedy. Judge Lopez noted that the auction's court-appointed trustee made a "good-faith error" by not allowing more competitive bidding between The Onion and a company associated with Jones's supplement business.
"This should have been opened back up for everyone," the judge stated. In reaction to the ruling, Jones expressed his satisfaction, labeling the auction methods as "ridiculous" and "fraudulent." Meanwhile, Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, voiced disappointment over the decision but committed to continuing efforts to acquire Infowars.
Once a fringe broadcaster in Austin, Texas, Jones gained a massive following through a blend of opinion, speculation, and misinformation. However, his financial troubles stem from his broadcasts related to the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six staff members.
Jones previously suggested the massacre was a hoax, declaring it a "synthetic" event involving actors. His controversial claims have led to harassment of the victims’ families, sparking criminal investigations. Although Jones later retracted his denial of the shooting's reality, he has faced numerous legal challenges and ultimately declared bankruptcy in 2022 amidst mounting litigation related to the Sandy Hook case.
As of June 2024, a judge ordered the liquidation of Jones's personal assets, a process that involved the sale of properties, vehicles, and other valuables totaling approximately $8.6 million according to court filings.
The Onion's bid was reportedly supported by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who had secured a $1.5 billion defamation judgment against Jones due to his dissemination of false information regarding the tragedy. Judge Lopez noted that the auction's court-appointed trustee made a "good-faith error" by not allowing more competitive bidding between The Onion and a company associated with Jones's supplement business.
"This should have been opened back up for everyone," the judge stated. In reaction to the ruling, Jones expressed his satisfaction, labeling the auction methods as "ridiculous" and "fraudulent." Meanwhile, Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, voiced disappointment over the decision but committed to continuing efforts to acquire Infowars.
Once a fringe broadcaster in Austin, Texas, Jones gained a massive following through a blend of opinion, speculation, and misinformation. However, his financial troubles stem from his broadcasts related to the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six staff members.
Jones previously suggested the massacre was a hoax, declaring it a "synthetic" event involving actors. His controversial claims have led to harassment of the victims’ families, sparking criminal investigations. Although Jones later retracted his denial of the shooting's reality, he has faced numerous legal challenges and ultimately declared bankruptcy in 2022 amidst mounting litigation related to the Sandy Hook case.
As of June 2024, a judge ordered the liquidation of Jones's personal assets, a process that involved the sale of properties, vehicles, and other valuables totaling approximately $8.6 million according to court filings.
