In a major development, InfoWars founder Alex Jones has asked a court to convert his personal bankruptcy filing into a Chapter 7 liquidation. This move comes in response to legal pressure from the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre victims, who are seeking $1.5 billion in damages from Jones for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the shooting. Jones’ lawyers stated in a filing that he sees no reasonable prospect for successful reorganization of his debts, leading him to opt for liquidation to avoid additional expenses.
The conversion to Chapter 7 liquidation would involve Jones giving up control of InfoWars and its parent company, Free Speech Systems. This decision comes after Jones emotionally broke down on his show, alleging that the “deep state” was attempting to shut down his program without presenting any evidence to support his claims. Free Speech Systems has also filed for bankruptcy protection and is currently undergoing restructuring. The Sandy Hook families filed an emergency motion urging a bankruptcy court to force Free Speech Systems into liquidation, but the judge has given Jones until June 14 to continue running the business.
The legal battle between Jones and the families of the Sandy Hook victims dates back to the 2012 massacre. After being successfully sued for defamation in both Connecticut and Texas, Jones was ordered to pay $1.5 billion in damages for spreading false conspiracy theories about the shooting. Despite being offered a settlement to pay at least $55 million over 10 years, the families unanimously rejected the deal. The shooting claimed the lives of 26 people, including 20 young children, and Jones used his platform to propagate the debunked theory that the tragedy was staged and the victims were crisis actors.
Court filings from Jones reveal that InfoWars’ store generated $165 million in revenue from merchandise sales between September 2015 and the end of 2018. With the financial stakes high and legal pressure mounting, Jones is now seeking to convert his bankruptcy filing to liquidation to avoid further expenses and potential penalties. The ongoing legal battle highlights the impact of baseless conspiracy theories and the responsibility of media figures to spread accurate information and respect the victims of tragedies. Despite the emotional toll on both sides, the fight for accountability and justice continues as the bankruptcy proceedings unfold.
