The fate of Alex Jones ‘ Infowars media platform is uncertain as he owes$ 1.5 billion for his false accusations that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax, despite a federal judge’s order to liquidate his personal assets on Friday while his company’s separate bankruptcy case is being decided.
Judge Christopher Lopez approved the personal debt bankruptcy option for Jones. He was hearing evidence Friday afternoon on whether Infowars ‘ family business, Texas- based Free Speech Systems, even should remain liquidated.
Some of Jones ‘ personal assets may be sold off as a result of Lopez’s earlier Friday decision. However, his main residence in Austin and some other personal items are excluded from liquidation bankruptcy. To pay off his debts, he has now moved to sell his$ 2.8 million Texas house, a gun variety, and other resources.
A sale of Free Speech Systems may result in Jones losing control of the business and selling its assets. He may lose the Infowars producers in Austin and its products, the agency’s social media accounts and all rights. A bankruptcy owner may handle the liquidation of the business. Jones also wants to lose his private social media accounts, but he opposes that. Some of Jones ‘ followers, including former Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone, have suggested they may try to buy Infowars.
Jones appeared to be quiet when the judge issued the order governing his personal resources, but as the conversation turned to the possibility of Free Speech Systems ‘ bankruptcy, Jones grew more enthusiastic. When Sandy Hook families ‘ lawyers debated claims Jones made on his Infowars show this year, he occasionally mumbled under his breathe or shook his head.
The attorneys for the Sandy Hook families think Jones intends to continue broadcasting his present in some other way. They informed the judge that they would pursue any of his upcoming income. Jones has stated to his audience that he will gain, and that losing his business would only increase his popularity.
” This is probably the close of Infowars these very, very quickly. If not now, in the next few weeks or months”, Jones told reporters outside jury before Friday’s hearing. ” But it’s just the beginning of my battle against tyranny”.
If his fans want to continue purchasing the dietary supplements he sells on his show, he has been instructing them to download movies from his website archives to sustain them. He also points them to a new site operated by his father.
According to the most recent financial statements in court, Jones has about$ 9 million in personal assets. According to J. Patrick Magill, the court’s chief restructuring officer tasked with overseeing the business during the bankruptcy, Free Speech Systems has about$ 6 million in cash on hand and about$ 1.2 million in inventory.
In 2022, Jones and Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy protection after the relatives of numerous victims of the 2012 school shooting that left six educators and 20 first-graders dead in Newtown, Connecticut, won judgments totaling more than$ 1.4 billion in Connecticut and$ 49 million in Texas.
Some of the Sandy Hook’s people ‘ attorneys have filed for bankruptcy.
According to Chris Mattei, a lawyer for the Connecticut families,” Doing so will enable the Connecticut families to enforce their$ 1.4 billion in judgments now and into the future as he has done for some 25 years.”
The family claimed that Jones ‘ opinions and his supporters ‘ actions had traumatized them. They have testified about being threatened and harassed by Jones ‘ followers, some of whom claimed that the shooting always occurred and that their children never existed. One family claimed that someone threatened to delve up his father’s tombstone.
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, it was impossible for the two parties to come to a final decision, so Jones just requested permission to convert his personal debt from a reorganization to a liquidation.
The people of the eight dead children and adults who were involved in the Connecticut petition have requested that Free Speech Systems ‘ bankruptcy case also 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.
The company’s prosecutors filed paperwork saying the company supported bankruptcy, but Jones ‘ personal bankruptcy lawyers want the judge to dismiss the 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 used to obtain the damage. That might provide Infowars with an expanded backbone.
Jones has been claiming on his new indicates that Democrats and the “deep position” are conspiring to shut down his businesses and revoke his freedom of speech, despite having since acknowledged that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred. Additionally, he claimed that the Sandy Hook families are being a lackeys in the plot. The people ‘ doctors say that is drivel.
Free Speech Systems, which employs 44 people, made practically$ 3.2 million in April, including from selling the dietary supplements, clothes and other things that Jones promotes on his show, while listing$ 1.9 million in costs.
In Texas, the people are suing Jones, alleging that he has been misusing and hiding millions of dollars. Jones has denied the claims.
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Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.
