Arguments in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ attempt to prevent the satirical news organization The Onion from purchasing Infowars and turning it into a parody will be heard by a bankruptcy judge on Monday.
Jones claims that the bankruptcy auction, in which The Onion defeated a business connected to him as the winning bidder on November 14, was tainted by fraud and collusion.
The timing of Houston’s U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez’s decision is uncertain. He might declare the other bidder the winner, call another auction, or let The Onion proceed with the sale. The question at hand is whether Jones will be ejected by The Onion or if he will be allowed to remain in the Infowars studio in Austin, Texas, under a new, amiable owner.
First United American Companies, the other bidder, operates a website selling nutritional supplements under Jones’ name.
In any case, Jones has established a new studio, websites, and social media profiles to enable him to continue broadcasting his program. Additionally, Lopez will be determining whether to include his personal account, which has 3.3 million followers on the social media network X, in the liquidation and sell it off later.
Following his order to pay over $1.5 billion to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in Newtown, Connecticut, Jones filed for bankruptcy and had his assets liquidated. Jones was repeatedly accused of labeling the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six teachers a hoax orchestrated by actors to push gun regulation, and he was found liable for defamation and emotional distress damages in cases in Connecticut and Texas.
The Sandy Hook families, who sued Jones, will receive a portion of the liquidation’s proceeds.
Jones claimed Numerous families, the comedy website, and a court-appointed trustee managing the liquidation were all involved in fraud and collaboration that led to the Onion’s proposal.
The Onion made a cash offer of $1.75 million, while First United American Companies made a sealed bid of $3.5 million. However, in order to pay other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would have received under other bids, the families of the Sandy Hook victims also promised to sacrifice some or all of the auction proceeds that were due to them in The Onion’s bid.
That made The Onion’s plan superior for creditors, according to trustee Christopher Murray, who declared it the winning offer. Any wrongdoing has been disputed by him.
Jones and First United American Companies argued that the bid’s inclusion of several businesses and absence of a legitimate financial number were violations of Lopez’s auction guidelines. Jones further claimed that Murray only chose from the sealed offers that were submitted and wrongfully canceled an anticipated round of live bidding.
On his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations, and Jones X account, Jones referred to the sale as a fraud and a rig.
Murray described the claims as an unsuccessful bidder’s improper attempt to sway an otherwise open and equitable auction process in a court filing.
A live bidding round was become optional by Lopez’s September order on the auction procedures. Additionally, it granted Murray considerable discretion to carry out the sale, including the ability to turn down any bid—no matter how high—that did not align with Jones’s, his company’s, and their creditors’ best interests.
However, Lopez expressed his concerns regarding the procedure and transparency during a hearing on November 14.
He stated, “I’m going to find out exactly what happened, and we’re all going to an evidentiary hearing.” This auction’s outcome shouldn’t make anyone feel at ease.
The Austin studio, Infowars video library, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars websites and social media accounts were among the assets of Infowars’ parent business, Free Speech Systems, that were for sale.
Jones has admitted that the school massacre occurred, but he is contesting the $1.5 billion in rulings on the grounds of free speech.
According to court records, Jones has made millions of dollars annually selling survival gear, apparel, nutritional supplements, and other items. This year, through September 30, he made over $22 million from his Infowars Store website.
As part of the bankruptcy, a large number of Jones’ personal assets, such as real estate, firearms, and other possessions, are also being liquidated.
According to court documents earlier this year, Free Speech Systems had over $1 million in goods and over $6 million in cash, while Jones had approximately $9 million in personal assets.
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