Alex Jones ordered to pay practically $1bn over Sandy Hook hoax claims

A Connecticut jury has ordered Alex Jones to pay practically $1bn in damages to individuals who stated they’ve suffered on account of the rightwing media determine’s claims that the Sandy Hook college taking pictures was a hoax.

Jones has falsely claimed for years that the 2012 college bloodbath, wherein 20 youngsters and 6 academics have been killed, was a plot staged by anti-gun activists and that victims’ households have been truly actors.

A few of these households have sued Jones, arguing that they’ve suffered abuse and dying threats, and that he has profited by spreading lies.

Jones was on Wednesday ordered to pay a complete of $965mn in damages to the households of eight victims and an FBI agent who responded to the taking pictures, the end result of three weeks of testimony throughout which plaintiffs described being harassed by individuals who believed the lies Jones informed. “Each single one in all these households was drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot proper on prime of them,” lawyer Chris Mattei informed the jury.

On Wednesday, Jones informed listeners of his media platform, InfoWars, that there “ain’t no cash” to pay the damages and that he’ll enchantment. Earlier this yr, corporations owned by Jones filed for chapter.

“You assume that Alex Jones has a billion {dollars}, he doesn’t have a billion {dollars},” InfoWars host Owen Shroyer informed listeners on Wednesday. Jones’s lawyer, Norm Pattis, stated on the present: “Haters are gonna hate.”

The lawsuit alleged that InfoWars used the Sandy Hook conspiracy idea to realize listeners and become profitable, presenting proof that gross sales of slimming capsules and different merchandise rose after Jones started discussing the taking pictures.

Jones admitted through the trial that the Sandy Hook taking pictures was actual, however he additionally lashed out throughout questioning. “I’ve already stated I’m sorry, and I’m executed saying I’m sorry,” he informed the court docket final month.

The damages might be divided between the relations of Sandy Hook victims who sued and the FBI agent who was additionally harassed.

Jones has been discovered liable in three lawsuits filed in Texas and Connecticut as a result of he failed to supply paperwork, together with monetary info, requested by the court docket. Trials are being held to determine how a lot he ought to pay in damages.

In August, a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay practically $50mn in damages to the dad and mom of one of many youngsters killed. Jones nonetheless faces another trial in Texas.

Regardless of being banned by social media websites akin to YouTube and Fb, InfoWars has continued to draw tens of millions of viewers. The corporate drew 7.3mn visits to its web site within the final month, in accordance with knowledge firm Similarweb.