Bankruptcy Trustee Plans Infowars Shutdown Amid Legal Battles
A court-appointed bankruptcy trustee is moving forward with plans to shut down Alex Jones’ Infowars media empire, aiming to liquidate its assets to settle a $1.5 billion debt owed to families of Sandy Hook school shooting victims.
Christopher Murray, the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings, detailed in a court filing on Sunday his intention to close operations of Free Speech Systems, Infowars’ parent company, and sell off its inventory.
The decision follows a recent ruling by a bankruptcy judge to liquidate Jones’ personal assets to compensate victims of his misinformation campaigns surrounding the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults tragically lost their lives.
Jones and Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after facing multiple defamation lawsuits related to false claims about the Sandy Hook tragedy. Despite the bankruptcy filings, a judge mandated that Jones remains liable for the $1.5 billion settlement.
The trustee’s filing requested the court to halt efforts by Sandy Hook families to collect payments directly from Jones, arguing that such actions could disrupt the orderly process of selling off Free Speech Systems’ assets.
“The Trustee seeks this Court’s intervention to prevent a value-destructive money grab and allow an orderly process to take its course,” Murray stated in the court document, responding to attempts by the families to seize funds from Infowars.
Jones, known for his conspiracy theories alleging the Sandy Hook shooting was staged to restrict gun rights, faces significant legal challenges and public backlash. His false claims have led to harassment and threats against the families of victims.
While Infowars had announced plans to continue broadcasting for a limited period, Jones expressed intentions to wind down operations to maximize financial returns amid ongoing legal battles.
The BBC reached out to Jones and legal representatives for the Sandy Hook families for comment, but no responses have been provided yet.
As the bankruptcy proceedings continue, the fate of Infowars and the resolution of financial obligations to the Sandy Hook families remain pivotal points in this complex legal saga.
