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☆ Behind The Onion's bid for Alex Jones's Infowars — which is now on hold as a judge reviews it
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe Onion's bid for Infowars came together with help from Sandy Hook families. On the surface, The Onion's announcement that it had purchased Alex Jones's Infowars at auction on Thursday may have sounded like a bizarre joke. But behind the scenes, the bid came together through strategic coordination — with the support of Sandy Hook families and a nonprofit that is backed by Michael Bloomberg. "The sale is currently underway, pending standard processes," Collins told Variety Friday in a statement. Advertisement"They've long loved The Onion," Collins told Yahoo, nodding to a headline the outlet publishes verbatim every time there's a mass shooting.

Persons: Infowars, Sandy Hook, Ben Collins, Alex Jones's Infowars, Michael Bloomberg, Collins, Alex Jones, Jones — who'd, Christopher Lopez, weren't, Lopez, Variety, John Feinblatt, who've, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Elon Musk's X, Jones Organizations: Yahoo, NBC, First United, Companies, Southern, of Texas's, Bloomberg News, Safety, ABC News, Bloomberg, Business, Variety, Free Speech Systems Locations: Texas

The sale of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media empire is a major blow to one of the defining independent media brands that ushered in a new era of fringe thinking, mainstreaming conspiracy theories once banished to the edges of the internet. And while Jones’ Infowars brand is now owned by the satirical news site The Onion, media researchers and conservative media experts say its legacy will live on thanks to the far-right media ecosystem it helped inspire, which continues to flourish. YouTube and other social media platforms began removing Jones’ videos in 2018 as they were flagged for violating content rules related to violent and graphic content. “What is going to happen with Infowars ‘Onion-ified,’ and what is going to happen to the kinds of internet conspiracy theorists who Alex Jones represents?” Phillips asked. “Alex Jones is not.”

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, ”, A.J, Bauer, Donald Trump’s, Infowars, Sandy, Jones “, Reece Peck, Barack Obama, —, ” Jones, Peck, ” Peck, Trump, Sandy Hook, Josh Owens, ” Owens, Owens, “, Elon Musk, Whitney Phillips, ” Phillips, “ Alex Jones Organizations: University of Alabama, Sandy Hook Elementary, Free Speech Systems, Safety, Rush, City University of New York, College of, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Trump, Infowars, University of Oregon Locations: Newtown , Connecticut, Austin , Texas, College of Staten Island, Trump, Infowars

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, “

Bidders interested in acquiring the media company founded by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones will battle it out at a bankruptcy auction Wednesday, potentially silencing his Infowars broadcasting platform for good. "All you leftists celebrating the end of Alex Jones and Infowars, you're fools," he said. Jay Westbrook, a University of Texas bankruptcy law professor, said the ultimate goal would be to earn a "maximum return for the victims." Jones, 50, founded Infowars, which operates under Free Speech Systems, in 1999. "Despite the judgment, Alex Jones still has a First Amendment right to speak his mind and continue to speak about anything he wants," he said.

Persons: Alex Jones, Jones, Sandy, Infowars, Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Christopher Murray, Sandy Hook, Jay Westbrook, Callie Kalny, Roy Gutterman Organizations: Free Speech Systems, Elementary, ThreeSixty, Associated Press, University of Texas, Center of Media Psychology, Northwestern University, Musk, U.S, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Sandy Hook Elementary, Speech Systems, Syracuse University, Center, Free Locations: Winnebago, Austin , Texas, Infowars, Southern District, Southern District of Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Connecticut, Texas

☆ Alex Jones fighting attempt to sell his social media account rights in Infowars auction
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said a proposed order regarding the potential sale of the social media accounts that preserved Jones’ right to sue over ownership later was unclear, and tentatively scheduled another hearing in a week. Despite the pending loss of his company, Jones has vowed to continue his talk shows through other means, possibly including a new website and his personal social media accounts. He also has suggested that Infowars’ assets could be bought by his supporters, allowing him to continue hosting his show as an employee under the Infowars brand in the company’s home city of Austin, Texas. The trustee argued that social media accounts of influencers, celebrities and political personalities have become valuable assets, and that Jones’ accounts have drawn particular interest from multiple parties in buying them. If sold, Jones’ attorneys said litigation would depend on who purchased them.

Persons: Alex Jones, Sandy, Jones, Christopher Murray, Christopher Lopez, ” Lopez, “, Jeff Kowalsky, ”, ” Jones, ” Vickie Driver, ” Driver, Sandy Hook, Jones ’ Organizations: Elementary, Free Speech Systems, Infowars, Convention, Huntington, Getty, Alex Jones NWO Locations: Infowars, Houston, Detroit, Mich, AFP, Austin , Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Texas and Connecticut

☆ Alex Jones' empire is getting stripped for parts. It won't be the last of him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAlex Jones' conspiracy theory empire Infowars will be sold off for parts to pay off a fraction of his massive court judgments — but it likely won't be the end of the far-right commentator. In a court hearing on Tuesday, a Texas bankruptcy judge announced that he will approve the auctioning off of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, which Jones fully owns, according to The Associated Press. The auction is a result of Jones agreeing in June to liquidate his assets after both he and Free Speech Systems filed separately for bankruptcy in 2022. Advertisement"It's very cut and dry that the assets of Free Speech Systems, the website, the equipment, the shopping cart, all that, can be sold," Jones said. The bankruptcy trustee overseeing Jones' assets said in court this week that some potential buyers have already expressed interest in getting a piece of Free Speech Systems, NPR reported.

Persons: —, Alex Jones, Jones, Sandy Hook, CNN —, he'd, it's, Infowars Organizations: Service, Free Speech Systems, Associated Press, Business, ThreeSixty, Speech Systems, CNN, NPR Locations: Texas, Sandy

☆ Judge to approve auctions liquidating Alex Jones' Infowars to help pay Sandy Hook families
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Jones’ personal social media sites, including his account on the social platform X, which has 2.8 million followers, would not be included. Murray also is expected to sell many of Jones’ personal assets. The Sandy Hook families who won the Connecticut lawsuit want Jones to lose his personal social media accounts. It’s unclear how much money would be raised by selling Infowars and Jones’ assets, and how much money the Sandy Hook families would get. If the debt is found to be valid, that could reduce any amount the Sandy Hook families ultimately get from the liquidations.

Persons: Alex Jones, Sandy, Christopher Lopez, Jones, “, ” Jones, Sandy Hook, ”, Jones ’, Lopez, Christopher Murray, Murray, Christopher Mattei, “ Alex Jones, ” Mattei, —, PQPR, wasn’t Organizations: Elementary, Free Speech Systems, Systems, PQPR Holdings, Speech Systems Locations: Houston, Austin , Texas, Newtown, Connecticut, Texas and Connecticut

☆ Alex Jones’ conspiracy theory empire Infowars will be sold for parts to help pay Sandy Hook families
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Anyone can place a bid for Infowars, including its dubious dietary supplement store, and use the property for any reason. Nothing would prevent him from continuing to broadcast under a new owner, although he would still need to pay off the debt he owes the Sandy Hook families with any earnings he may receive. There’s also nothing stopping Jones from continuing to speak about the Sandy Hook massacre or the families. The only way Jones would be prevented from speaking about Sandy Hook entirely is through a separate settlement with the families. But even if all of Jones’ personal intellectual property is sold off along with Infowars, it’s unlikely to make more than a small dent in the amount he owes the Sandy Hook families.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy, Christopher Mattei, Sandy Hook, Alex Jones, ” Mattei, There’s, “, ” Jones, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Free Speech Systems, Elementary, ThreeSixty, Systems, Infowars Locations: New York, Texas, Connecticut, Sandy

☆ Alex Jones’ court trustee plans to shut down his notorious conspiracy outlet Infowars
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars media empire will be shut down and sold off, a bankruptcy court-appointed trustee said in an emergency court filing Sunday, signalling the end of the notorious far-right outlet that Jones has used to spread dangerous misinformation and lies. But at that time, the judge ruled Jones’ media company Free Speech Systems, the parent of Infowars, would not be liquidated partly because the process would be costly and lengthy. The dismissal of the bankruptcy case against the outlet meant that the families were free to go after Jones’ assets, including Infowars, in state court. Since Jones is the owner of Free Speech Systems, a court appointed trustee was put in charge of the company. As a result, Jones’ trustee asked the bankruptcy judge for an emergency stay in the case to allow them to conduct an “orderly wind-down and sale process” of Infowars.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy Hook, “, Christopher Mattei, Connecticut, ”, ” Mattei, ” Jones, Infowars, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Speech Systems, Free Speech Systems, Systems, Court, Free, “ Locations: Texas, Infowars, Connecticut, Infowars

☆ Alex Jones’ Infowars survived a judge’s order, but the conspiracy outlet could still be shut down
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Some of the Sandy Hook families had requested the judge move to liquidate Jones’ Free Speech Systems company. What happens to InfowarsFor now, nothing changes for Jones’ Infowars shows. Because of Jones’ bankruptcy, Free Speech Systems is now in the hands of a court-appointed trustee. “I do not now own Infowars,” Jones said during an “emergency” show on Saturday. But no matter what happens to the company, Jones still owes nearly $1.5 billion.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy, I’ve, Christopher Lopez, “, Lopez, Sandy Hook, ” Lopez, Jones ’, Sandy Hook –, It’s, ” Jones, ” Jay Westbrook, ” Westbrook, ” Marie Reilly, Anthony Fauci, Trump, Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson Organizations: CNN, Free Speech Systems, Systems, Speech Systems, University of Texas, Penn State University, National Institute of Allergy, Fox News Locations: Houston

☆ 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

☆ The end of Infowars? Judge to decide fate of Alex Jones’ conspiracy empire in Sandy Hook families’ quest for justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Alex Jones’ conspiracy empire is on the brink. If the judge rules in favor of Sandy Hook families, Infowars would be shuttered. In such a scenario, a court-appointed trustee would be tasked with securing the assets and then selling off Jones’ media empire, including the website, studio space, and broadcasting equipment. “Infowars would no longer exist,” Christopher Mattei, an attorney who represents some of the Sandy Hook families, explained this week to CNN’s Hadas Gold. But the attorneys representing Sandy Hook families expect that the most likely scenario is Jones’ Infowars empire will be sold off, piece by piece, with the proceeds going to their clients.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Sandy Hook, Jones, Infowars, ” Christopher Mattei, ” Jones, Tucker Carlson, Dinesh D’Souza, Alex Jones, ” Mattei, “, ” Organizations: New York CNN, Systems, Companies, Fox News, Voting Systems, America News, Salem Media Locations: New York, Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Connecticut

☆ Judge approves liquidation of Alex Jones’ personal assets to pay Sandy Hook victims’ families
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jon Passantino | Nicki Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A Texas bankruptcy court judge has approved the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ personal assets, setting the stage for repayment to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. Last week, Jones agreed to convert his personal bankruptcy into a Chapter 7 liquidation. The seismic move paves the way for Jones to no longer own Infowars, the influential conspiracy empire he founded in the late 1990s. Texas Judge Christopher Lopez will also on Friday consider liquidating Jones’ company Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, to pay the judgments to the Sandy Hook families. Jones acknowledged Friday that his most famous media property is likely to go away as part of his ongoing bankruptcy case.

Persons: CNN —, Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, Jones, Christopher Lopez, liquidating Jones, ” Jones, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Speech Systems Locations: Texas, Houston

☆ 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

Sandy Hook families who won nearly $1.5 billion in legal judgments against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for calling the 2012 Connecticut school shooting a hoax have offered to settle that debt for only pennies on the dollar — at least $85 million over 10 years. His time is up," lawyers for the Sandy Hook families wrote. But this month, a court-appointed restructuring officer upped Jones' pay to about $57,700 biweekly, or $1.5 million a year, saying he has been “grossly” underpaid for how vital he is to the media company. If Jones doesn't accept the families' offer, Lopez would determine how much he would pay the families and other creditors. Relatives, of many but not all, of the Sandy Hook victims sued Jones in Connecticut and Texas, winning nearly $1.5 billion in judgments against him.

Persons: Sandy Hook, Alex Jones, Jones, “ Jones, Vickie Driver, ”, Christopher Lopez, Lopez, Jones ’ Organizations: Free Speech Systems, Speech Systems, Monday, Sandy Hook Elementary Locations: Connecticut, Houston, Sandy, Newtown , Connecticut, Texas

Infowars founder Alex Jones arrives to speak to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones cannot use his personal bankruptcy to escape paying at least $1.1 billion in defamation damages stemming from his repeated lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, a U.S. bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday. Courts in Connecticut and Texas have already ruled that Jones intentionally defamed relatives of school children killed in the mass shooting, and they have ordered Jones to pay $1.5 billion in damages. Lopez ruled that more than $1.1 billion of those verdicts, awarded for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, cannot be wiped away in bankruptcy. Attorneys for Jones and the Sandy Hook families did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Alex Jones, Sandy Hook, Mike Segar, Christopher Lopez, Jones, Lopez, defaming Leonard Pozner, Veronique De La Rosa, Noah, Dietrich Knauth, Diane Craft, David Gregorio, Alexia Garamfalvi, Rod Nickel Organizations: Connecticut Superior, REUTERS, U.S, Sandy Hook Elementary, Free Speech Systems, CNN, Thomson Locations: Waterbury , Connecticut, U.S, Houston , Texas, Connecticut, Texas, Newtown , Connecticut

☆ Data scientists describe the arduous, AI-powered task of getting Amazon's Alexa to speak in an Irish lilt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Two scientists at Amazon used artificial intelligence to help them make Alexa Irish. The team trained Alexa on accents generated by text-to-speech models. This then helped them identify distinctive aspects of the Irish accent to train Irish Alexa. Using an already existing Alexa model that speaks in a British accent as a baseline, the data scientists trained it on the Irish accents provided by text-to-speech models as well as voice recordings, the Times reported. They later zeroed in and modified certain sounds — for example, emphasizing the "r" sounds in words much like an Irish person would — to create the voice that eventually accompanied Irish Alexa.

Persons: Alexa, Georgi Tinchev, Marius Cotescu, disentanglement, disentangle, Irish Alexa Organizations: Alexa Irish, Morning, The New York Times, Times Locations: Irish

☆ A.I. human-voice clones are coming for the Amazon, Apple, Google audiobook
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

"For many publishers, audiobook production can be a major investment," said Judy Chang, director of product management for Google Play Books. Even with AI voice, there is nominally a voice actor somewhere in the process. What voice actors sayFor some voice actors, the choice is being made to stay away. Kinsella noted that AI voice played a foundational role in the integration of AI into daily life at an earlier point. But he added, "I've yet to find a client who tells me they've chosen an AI voice over hiring me.

Persons: Ciccarell, Ciccarelli, David Ciccarelli, Alexa, Judy Chang, It's, it's, Bret Kinsella, Brad Ziffer, Michele Cobb, Cobb, Siri, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Kinsella, … Siri, ChatGPT, Ziffer, Andrea Collins, Collins, John Kubin, I've, Kubin Organizations: Google, Apple, Audio Publishers Association, Alexa Locations: U.S

Since Jones and his company are bankrupt, the trials would not normally be allowed to proceed without bankruptcy court permission. Jones has said that he can not afford to pay the Sandy Hook defamation judgments, and is attempting to resolve all legal claims against him through a settlement in bankruptcy. Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose six-year-old son Noah was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, would proceed to trial in October. Without a placeholder value, the Texas defamation claims could be given far less weight than the defamation claims that have already resulted in $1.5 billion in verdicts, according to Jones’ court filings. The case is Alex Jones, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, No.

Persons: Sandy Hook, Alex Jones, Jones, Christopher Lopez, Lopez, Sandy, Leonard Pozner, Veronique De La Rosa, Noah, De, De La Rosa, Marcel Fontaine, Fontaine, De La, Fontaine's, Jennifer Hardy, Vickie Driver, Crowe, Ray Battaglia, Pozner, Willkie Farr, Gallagher Read, Dietrich Knauth Organizations: U.S, Speech Systems, De La, CNN, Bankruptcy, Southern, Southern District of, Dunlevy, Systems, Thomson Locations: U.S, Houston, Newtown , Connecticut, Texas, Parkland , Florida, Southern District, Southern District of Texas

☆ 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

NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - The families of Sandy Hook victims are preparing to sue Alex Jones' wife and other family members to help satisfy $1.5 billion in judgments they won from lawsuits against the bankrupt right wing conspiracy theorist over his lies about the deadly 2012 U.S. school massacre. The families have a "very strong case" to claw back certain payments to Jones' family, including a $1 million payment from Jones to his wife, Zensky said. "You can imagine that if someone was to sue their wife over transfers, that's a little hard in the home," Driver said. The families have accused Jones and FSS of profiting off lies about the shooting for years and sued him for defamation. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez, who is overseeing the bankruptcies, said Jones and the Sandy Hook families should make one last effort to reach a settlement.

☆ Alex Jones is transferring his money away so he doesn't have to pay Sandy Hook victims, NYT reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Alex Jones owes families of Sandy Hook victims close to $1.5 billion. Jones has been transferring his assets to family and friends, The New York Times reported. The Times reported that Jones' company, Free Speech Systems, has already transferred tens of thousands of dollars to another company he owns with his parents. And he's started new business partnerships with companies founded and owned by his friends, the Times reported. Jones is still broadcasting Infowars, and The Times reported his lawyers have said in court that business is "booming."

☆ Alex Jones is trying to swing a bankruptcy plan where he still gets paid $520,000 a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones filed for bankruptcy, but he wants to be paid $520,000 per year. Jones owes around $1.5 billion to the relatives of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems — which he fully owns — filed for bankruptcy separately in December and July, respectively. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, Free Speech Systems filed a reorganization proposal on Tuesday. It sources some of its products from a company called PQPR Holdings, to which Free Speech Systems owes $54 million.

The Sandy Hook families said that they need specialized assistance to review Jones' assets, income, and ability to pay those verdicts. Jones filed preliminary financial statements earlier in February, but listed several trusts that held unknown assets. Jones filed for personal bankruptcy in December, saying he could afford to pay less than 1% of the judgments handed down in two Sandy Hook defamation trials. Lopez will decide in March if Jones has to face a third Sandy Hook defamation trial. The Sandy Hook families have expressed concern that Jones is using bankruptcy to limit payments on the defamation judgments while attempting to collect income outside of the bankruptcy court's oversight.

It would be the third defamation trial against Jones and his company Free Speech Systems, after two previous ones found Jones and FSS liable for a combined $1.5 billion in damages. A Texas court previously found them liable and the proposed trial would determine how much Jones owes the parents. He estimated a two-week trial would cost $600,000, reducing the amount of money available to pay Pozner, De La Rosa and other Sandy Hook parents with legal claims against him. Jones filed for personal bankruptcy in December after those two trials concluded, saying he could afford to pay less than 1% of the Sandy Hook defamation judgments. Sandy Hook parents raised concerns at Tuesday's hearing about Jones's recent recording of a podcast similar to his Alex Jones Show in a new studio space and under a brand not affiliated with FSS.

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