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The Onion, the satirical news company that repeatedly spoofed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, has won the bankruptcy auction for control over his media empire — most notably Infowars, the far-right, conspiracy-minded website that served as Jones’ primary online platform. The Onion plans to shutter Jones’ Infowars and rebuild the website featuring well-known internet humor writers and content creators, according to a person with knowledge of the sale. About an hour and a half after the announcement of the sale, Infowars' website was shut down. Details of Wednesday’s auction, including how much was offered for Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, and related assets, were not immediately known. “All you leftists celebrating the end of Alex Jones and Infowars, you’re fools,” he said.

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, “, ” Jones, Infowars, Sandy, Sandy Hook, Chris Mattei, divesting Jones, John Feinblatt, Ben Collins, Collins, Christopher Murray, ”, Jeff Lawson, InfoWars Organizations: U.S, First United American Companies, Free Speech Systems, Sandy Hook Elementary, Gun Safety, NBC News, Onion News, ThreeSixty, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Global, Onion staff, O Media, Speech Systems Locations: Connecticut, Texas, Winnebago, Austin , Texas, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Sandy Hook, Newtown , Connecticut, “

☆ The Onion has won the bid for Infowars’ assets
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Satirical news site The Onion won the auction to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars, which was sold off as part of a defamation settlement after he falsely called the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax. The Onion’s bid was backed by the families of eight victims of school shooting and one first responder. Jones was previously ordered to pay $1.5 billion to families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Jones had used Infowars to spread some of the most disturbing and disgusting lies and conspiracy theories into the public discourse. Though Collins declined to detail the bid amount, he said it was the highest and that the funding came from The Onion itself.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy Hook, he’s, motorhome, ”, Ben Collins, ” Alex Jones, David J, Phillip, Collins, “ We’re, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Robbie Parker, Emilie, Infowars, Jones ’, Oliver Darcy Organizations: CNN, Elementary, Gun Safety Locations: Sandy, Houston, harm’s

☆ Alex Jones’ personal assets to be sold to help pay Sandy Hook debt as judge decides Infowars’ fate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A federal judge on Friday ordered the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones′ personal assets and was still deciding on his company's separate bankruptcy case. Judge Christopher Lopez approved converting Jones' proposed personal bankruptcy reorganization to a liquidation. He was still set to rule on whether Jones' company, Austin, Texas-based Free Speech Systems, also should be liquidated. It wasn't immediately clear what will happen to Free Speech Systems, which is Infowars' parent company. If Free Speech Systems' case is dismissed, the company could return to the same position it was in after the $1.5 billion was awarded in the lawsuits.

Persons: Alex Jones, Infowars, Senate's Dirksen, Jack Dorsey, Jones, Sandy, Christopher Lopez, Sandy Hook, Chris Mattei, Jesse Lewis, — Organizations: U.S, Intelligence, Capitol, Elementary, Speech Systems, Free Speech Systems, Systems Locations: Washington , U.S, Austin , Texas, Austin, Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Connecticut, Texas and Connecticut

☆ Alex Jones agrees to liquidate his assets to pay Sandy Hook families, in move that would end his ownership of Infowars
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Thursday moved to liquidate his personal assets, agreeing to demands from the families of Sandy Hook victims whom he owes more than $1.5 billion in damages over his lies about the 2012 school massacre. Jones technically has not controlled the Infowars business for some time, given that Free Speech Systems has also filed for bankruptcy protection. A hearing is scheduled for next Friday to determine the fate of Free Speech Systems’ bankruptcy. But regardless of what happens in that case, Thursday’s legal move sets the stage for a court-appointed trustee to liquidate Jones’ personal assets, which includes his stake in Infowars. The liquidation of Jones’ assets does not mean that Infowars will cease to exist.

Persons: Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, Jones, ” Avi Moshenberg, ” Chris Mattei Organizations: CNN, Systems Locations: Connecticut, Texas, Infowars

☆ How Trump's 'I'm rich!' boasts are coming back to bite him in court
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Laura Italiano | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The day before awarding Carroll $83.3 million in damages — Trump's penance for calling her a lying "whack job" when she told the world he'd sexually assaulted her — jurors heard, firsthand, how rich he was. AdvertisementTrump's "I'm rich" boasts hurt him in both the Carroll verdict and the upcoming fraud trial verdict, Snell said. Punitive damages in defamation cases are supposed to have a deterrent effect, to stop the defamation from happening again. AdvertisementTrump's wealth also illustrates why the jury imposed enormous punitive damages compared to the $18.3 million to compensate Carroll. The Carroll jury also heard Trump boast about the value of his "brand."

Persons: Donald Trump's, Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Carroll, Roberta Kaplan, Trump, Letitia James, I'm, Tristan Snell, General's, Snell, Trump's, —, Kaplan, J, Erik Connolly, Connolly, Stephanie Keith, There's, We've, that's, Forbes, Timothy A, Clary, didn't, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Mattei, Arthur Engoron, Engoron Organizations: Carroll, Trump, New York Attorney, New, New York, Trump University, Disney, Benesch, NEW, Manhattan Federal Court, E, MSNBC, Trump Organization, Forbes, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Manhattan, Smartmatic, New York City, AFP, New York

☆ Trump's sexual assault on E. Jean Carroll cost him just $2mil. His mouth put him on the hook for nearly $90mil more.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Most of the nearly $100 million Donald Trump owes E. Jean Carroll stems from verbal attacks on her. For the sexual assault, the jury ordered Trump to cough up just over $2 million to the longtime advice columnist. This most recent trial differed from last year's, at which Carroll sued Trump for both the sexual abuse and defamation. AdvertisementE. Jean Carroll with her attorneys Shawn Crowley and Roberta Kaplan following the second trial's jury verdict. Only a massive punitive damages verdict, Carroll's lawyers argued, would get Trump to actually stop.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jean Carroll, Trump, Carroll, —, E, she's, Carroll's, defaming Carroll, Spencer Platt, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Mattei, Shawn Crowley, Roberta Kaplan, Yuki Iwamura, wasn't, J, Erik Connolly, Connolly, Carroll —, Donald Trump's, hasn't Organizations: Service, CBS, Trump, Business, Getty, White, AP, Benesch, CNN Locations: Manhattan, New York City

In December, a jury ordered Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million for defaming election workers. AdvertisementThese extraordinary judgments are the result of a combination of factors, but social media plays a major role, legal experts said. While in the past, high-profile figures may have been less willing to make defamatory statements, social media can actually provide an incentive for them to do so. Jones also stood to gain from spreading conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook shooting, according to Mattei. Lieb added it's not that any statement made on social media will automatically carry major consequences, but that the size of the person's audience makes a huge difference.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Jean Carroll —, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, We've, Chris Mattei, Jones, Mattei, Infowars, it's, Andrew Lieb, Lieb, Giuliani, Carroll, John Jones Organizations: Service, Business, Carroll, Trump, Dickinson College Locations: New York

☆ Trump's 'disrespectful' behavior during E. Jean Carroll trial turned the jury against him and saddled him with an $83.3 million bill, legal experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A federal jury ordered Donald Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages on Friday. During the defamation trial, Trump and his attorney appeared to frequently frustrate the presiding judge. The jury deliberated for under three hours before delivering their verdict, which included $18.8 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages for Carroll. Juries tend to grow attached to their presiding trial judge, Jones said, adding that they often come to see the judge as a protector of sorts. The $83.3 million in damages are on top of $5 million in damages Carroll won during the May 2023 trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jean Carroll, Trump, —, Jean Carroll's, Carroll, Lewis Kaplan, Alina Habba, impatiently, John Jones, Jones, Kaplan, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Mattei, defaming Carroll, Habba, Biden, Witch Hunt, That's Organizations: Service, Carroll, US, Dickinson College, Trump, —, Republican Party Locations: Pennsylvania

☆ Trump plans to testify in E. Jean Carroll's trial. His only move would be to apologize and beg for forgiveness, experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

On Monday, Trump's attorney Alina Habba said he intends to take the witness stand in his defense. Trump's two driving impulses — to fight the system and to take the witness stand — will create the judicial equivalent of a car wreck, experts told Business Insider. Alternatively, Trump can get on the witness stand and "try to testify in a narrative fashion," Jones said. Carroll's trial does have a jury, making it harder to "unring that bell" of forbidden testimony, Jones said. Or wager that he'll inflict wounds on himself by taking the witness stand?

Persons: —, Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Trump, defaming Carroll, Carroll, Carroll —, Alina Habba, John Jones, Jilting, MAGA, Jones, " Jones, Lewis Kaplan, — Trump, aren't, Carol Martin, Carroll's, Mary Altaffer Trump, Habba, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, " Mattei, Kaplan, Arthur Engoron, Michael M, Engoron, Will, he's, he'll, Elle, Jane Rosenberg, Mattei, they'll, Rudy Giuliani's, Giuliani, it's, Forbes Organizations: Service, Business, Dickinson College, AP, Trump, New York Attorney, New, US Justice Department, Getty, REUTERS, Republican Locations: Manhattan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia

☆ E. Jean Carroll trial delayed for a second time, postponing expected Trump testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTestimony in E. Jean Carroll's ongoing defamation trial against Donald Trump was postponed for the second day in a row, according to a notice posted to the court docket. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The ongoing trial concerns additional defamation damages for two statements Trump made in 2019, while he was president, disparaging Carroll by calling her dishonest and insulting her appearance. On Truth Social and at rallies, he's continued calling Carroll a liar and claims he doesn't know who she is. Chris Mattei, an attorney who represented family members of Sandy Hook shooting victims in their defamation trial against conspiracy theorist Alex Jomes, told Business Insider it would be pointless for Trump to testify.

Persons: —, Jean Carroll's, Donald Trump, Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, Alina Habba, Trump, Habba, Carroll, defaming, Robbie Myers, Elle, he's, doesn't, Chris Mattei, Sandy Hook, Alex Jomes, Mattei, Alex Jones Organizations: Service, Business, Republican, Trump Locations: Manhattan, New Hampshire

Trump and his co-defendants are accused of a wide-ranging scheme to reverse his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. No trial date has been set for Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, as have all but one of his co-defendants. The Georgia case is one of four federal or state criminal prosecutions Trump faces as he campaigns to retake the White House in 2024. He is also currently on trial in a civil case in New York that could dismantle pillars of his business empire. Convictions in the first trial could ratchet up pressure on other defendants to strike plea deals and potentially cooperate with prosecutors.

Persons: Donald Trump, Brendan McDermid, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Fani Willis, Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Biden, “ It’s, ”, Harry Sandick, Chesebro, Powell, Chris Mattei, Willis, Judge Scott McAffee, Mattei, ” Sandick, Jack Queen, Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Trump, Fulton, Democrat, Republican, Prosecutors, White House, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Fulton County , Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ Inside Infowars' crumbling empire: Ex-Staffers reveal the 'volatile' and 'unhinged' atmosphere working for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Tom Porter | Ashley Collman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

One afternoon in the spring of 2017 Alex Jones furiously lunged at his video producer. According to Jacobson, Jones had to be restrained by another Infowars staffer lest he actually hurt him. Alex Jones did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Owens also said he felt guilty about his complicity in promoting the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories during his time working there. "People hearing the words Sandy Hook, they automatically think Alex Jones," she added.

Persons: Alex Jones, lunged, Robert Jacobson, Jones, Jacobson, hawking, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Alex, baselessly, David, doesn't, Sandy Hooks, Sandy Hook, Josh Owens, Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene, John Travolta, badgering, George, we're, Jone, Nuri Vallbona, lackey, …, That's, I'm, Christmas Jones, Kelly, David Duke, Duke, Infowars, He'd, David McCullough, Christopher Jordan, Jordan, they're, Megan Squire, Squire, Dave Mustain, Tim Kennedy, Donald Trump, Chris Mattei, Judge Barbara Bellis, Daria Karpova, Karpova, " Jacobson, he'll, He'll Organizations: Austin, Austin Community, Facebook, Factory, Infowars, Iron, Alamo, New York Times Magazine, REUTERS, New, Senate, Housing, Southern Poverty Law Center, San Diego, Free Speech Systems, YouTube, Sandy, Connecticut Superior, Associated Locations: Austin, Texas, USA, Infowars, Atlanta, Austin , Texas, U.S, New York City, Louisiana, Infowar, Newtown, Connecticut, New Orleans, Waterbury, Conn

☆ Alex Jones files for bankruptcy protection, lists Sandy Hook families as creditors
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Alex Jones arrives at the court house as he faces a second defamation trial over Sandy Hook claims in Waterbury, Connecticut, September 22, 2022. Jones filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, court records show. An attorney for the Sandy Hook families told CNBC in an email, "Like every other cowardly move Alex Jones has made, this bankruptcy will not work." A Connecticut jury in October ordered Jones to pay nearly $1 billion in damages to Sandy Hook relatives. Relatives of Sandy Hook victims have said the harassment they received on the heels of the shooting by people who believed the massacre was a hoax has continued until this year.

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay $473 million in punitive damages for his defamatory claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting, a Connecticut judge ruled on Thursday. On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman murdered his mother, then killed 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School before killing himself. Some experts doubt the move will offer much protection for Jones’ assets, even if he is not able to pay the full judgments against him. The Sandy Hook families have intervened in the case, urging a judge to freeze Free Speech Systems' assets and investigate its finances. They claim Jones pulled $62 million from the company while burdening it with $65 million in “fabricated” debt.

☆ Alex Jones faces long odds hiding assets after $1 billion Sandy Hook verdict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It also comes three months after a Texas jury awarded two Sandy Hook parents $49.3 million in a similar case. An economist in the Texas case estimated that Jones is personally worth between $135 million and $270 million. “No bankruptcy judge would allow Alex Jones and his dad to stand in line in front of the plaintiffs,” Myers said. 'EGREGIOUS' CONDUCTInfowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. D’Amico said a billion-dollar verdict is appropriate given the uniquely tragic circumstances of the case and egregious nature of Jones’ conduct.

Infowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. The plaintiffs were relatives of 20 children and six staff members who were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. The families, meanwhile, suffered a decade-long campaign of harassment and death threats by Jones’ followers, attorney Chris Mattei said. The trial was marked by weeks of anguished testimony from the families, who filled the gallery each day and took turns recounting how Jones’ lies about Sandy Hook compounded their grief. In August, another jury found that Jones and his company must pay $49.3 million to Sandy Hook parents in a similar case in Austin, Texas, where the headquarters of Jones' Infowars conspiracy theory website is located.

The families claimed Jones profited off the lies while they were harassed and abused by those who believed him. This is the second trial related to his Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. In August, a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages to Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, whose son Jesse was killed in the massacre. “Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them." A defiant Jones said he believed Sandy Hook was a hoax when he spread his lies.

REUTERS/Michelle McLoughlinOct 12 (Reuters) - A Connecticut jury on Wednesday ordered U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $965 million for spreading falsehoods about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting. December 2012 - A gunman kills 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, using a Remington Bushmaster rifle. May 23, 2018 - Fourteen relatives of Sandy Hook victims sue Jones and four entities connected to Jones in Connecticut state court. Oct. 31, 2018 - Another Sandy Hook parent sues Jones and Free Speech Systems in Texas, where Jones' radio show and webcast are based. The case was dismissed in June after the Sandy Hook parents intervened, arguing it was a stall tactic.

☆ Alex Jones' billion-dollar judgement: The conspiracy theorist has turned career-ending setbacks into profit windfalls, but this could be too much to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ashley Collman | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Robbie Parker was later falsely called a crisis actor, and the Parkers are among those who sued Alex Jones for defamation. Longtime informal adviser to Donald Trump, Roger Stone (right), and and Alex Jones (left) speak to reporters in December 2018. Picture showing a computer screen displaying the Twitter account of Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones taken on August 15, 2018 in Washington DC. "Alex Jones is likely to continue being Alex Jones, which means he's likely to try all kinds of shenanigans to avoid accountability," said Holt. "The money awarded in damages does not repair what Alex Jones has done to those parents' lives, but it could be a step towards dismantling the toxic empire that Alex Jones has built around his brand."

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