As a debt judge decides whether to sell his assets to pay the$ 1.5 billion he owes for his bogus claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a ruse, right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appears on the verge of losing the Infowars advertising program that he turned into a multimillion-dollar moneymaker over the past 25 years.
Friday morning’s reading in Houston’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court is scheduled.
Jones has been telling his website and radio audiences that Free Speech Systems, Infowars ‘ parent company, is in danger of closing down as a result of the debt. If they want to remain purchasing the dietary supplements he sells on his present, he has also been urging them to download movies from his website archives to protect them.
On his present on Wednesday, Jones said,” I think it’s very accurate to say Infowars is a sinking ship,” before adding that it might take a few hours or days before he loses the business.
” Infowars may dwell on thanks to all the excellent work we’ve done, all the information we’ve filed, thanks to you saving them and sharing them, and of course I did come back stronger than always,” he said. ” But I’m going to be with the fleet until it completely sinks…. At the last instant, I will then move onto the next ship”.
Jones ‘ resources would be sold in the event of insolvency. It could also indicate Jones loses possession of Free Speech Systems, Infowars, the agency’s social media accounts and all rights. Last facts are not yet decided. Some of Jones ‘ supporters, including past Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone, have suggested they may try to buy Infowars.
For Jones and Free Speech Systems ‘ debt attorneys, emails asking for comment were left ahead of Friday’s reading. According to the most recent financial filings in court, Jones has about$ 9 million in personal assets, while his business has about$ 4 million in cash on hand.
Free Speech Systems, a company owned by Jones and Austin, Texas, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 when the families of many victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, which left 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, won lawsuit judgments totaling more than$ 1.4 billion in Connecticut and$ 49 million in Texas.
Attorneys for the Sandy Hook people have been requesting bankruptcy.
According to Chris Mattei, a solicitor for the Connecticut people,” Doing so will allow the Connecticut people to maintain their$ 1.4 billion in decisions today and into the future,” as well as depriving Jones of the ability to cause massive damage as he has for some 25 times.
The family described how Jones ‘ opinions and his fans ‘ actions traumatized them. They claimed that Jones ‘ followers had threatened and harassed them, some of whom confronted the grieving people in person, saying the shooting previously occurred and their children never existed. According to one family, one threatened to dig up the grave of their deceased son.
Jones and Free Speech Systems first requested debt restructuring protection, which would have allowed him to manage Infowars while making money for his family from his show. However, the two parties were unable to come to a final decision, so Jones just requested permission to convert his personal bankruptcy from a restructuring to a liquidation.
People of eight dead children and adults who were also kids have asked that Free Speech Systems ‘ separate bankruptcy case be made into a bankruptcy. But the parents in the Texas match— whose child, 6- year- ancient Jesse Lewis, died — like the company’s case dismissed.
Lawyers for the business filed paperwork indicating that it was in favor of liquidation, but Jones ‘ personal bankruptcy lawyer filed a motion on Wednesday, claiming that he does not support that plan and wants the judge to dismiss the business ‘ case.
If Free Speech Systems ‘ case is dismissed, the business could be able to reclaim the position it was in following the$ 1.5 billion award in the lawsuits. The state courts in Texas and Connecticut would be able to recover the damages. As collection efforts progressed, that might provide Infowars with an extended lifeline.
Although he has since acknowledged that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred, Jones has been claiming on his recent shows that Democrats and the “deep state” are conspiring to shut down his businesses and revoke his freedom of speech as a result of his beliefs. Additionally, he claimed that the Sandy Hook families are being a pawns in the plot. The families ‘ lawyers say that is nonsense.
According to the most recent financial statements filed in the bankruptcy court, Jones personally owns about$ 9 million in assets, including his$ 2.6 million Austin-area home and other real estate. He listed his living expenses at about$ 69, 000 for April alone, including about$ 16, 500 for expenses on his home.
Free Speech Systems, which employs 44 people, made nearly$ 3.2 million in April, including from selling the dietary supplements, clothing and other items that Jones promotes on his show, while listing$ 1.9 million in expenses.
In Texas, the families are suing Jones, alleging that he has been misusing and hiding millions of dollars. Jones has denied the allegations.
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Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.
