On Thursday, a Texas judge ruled that despite declaring bankruptcy, Alex Jones must still pay Sandy Hook victims’ families $1.1 billion for defaming them.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that some of the punitive damages could be discharged in bankruptcy, but it was not the case for the damages awarded for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In total, Jones has been ordered in Connecticut and Texas to pay more than $1.5 billion, according to Reuters.
Lopez said he would have another hearing to address how much of the punitive damages can be discharged, and if some of Jones’ lies were “reckless,” or “willful” and “malicious.”
In 2012, Adam Lanza killed his mother before entering Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and fatally shooting 20 children and six adults. Lanza then turned the gun on himself.
Over the years, Sandy Hook shooting victims’ families have faced unfounded accusations— fanned by Jones and his cohorts — that they faked their children’s deaths.
Specifically, Jones said on his platform that the 2012 mass shooting was a “false flag” operation committed by “crisis actors.” At some points, the victims’ families have had to prove their slain children’s existence.
Families of eight shooting victims and an FBI agent were awarded a default judgment in Connecticut in October 2022. In that case, Jones defaulted on the defamation trial because he repeatedly failed to provide the court with business records.
The judge subsequently concluded that Jones’ claims that the mass shooting was a hoax were defamatory and led to ongoing harassment targeting the victims’ families.
Reuters reported that Jones faces two more defamation cases for two people who are awaiting final judgments.
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[Featured image: Alex Jones/AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File]
