**The ruling raises concerns about the auction process and emphasizes the legal ramifications stemming from Jones's previous defamation statements related to the Sandy Hook shooting.**
**Judge Denies The Onion's Bid for Infowars in Bankruptcy Auction**
**Judge Denies The Onion's Bid for Infowars in Bankruptcy Auction**
**A U.S. bankruptcy judge has ruled against The Onion's acquisition of Alex Jones's Infowars, sparking a debate over bidding practices.**
In a surprising turn of events, a U.S. bankruptcy judge has dismissed the acquisition of Alex Jones's controversial Infowars website by humor publication The Onion. Judge Christopher Lopez reached his decision following a multi-day court hearing, emphasizing that the auction did not yield the most competitive offers.
The judge's ruling came as a response to Jones's allegations of "collusion" during the auction process, which he claimed unfairly impacted the final bids. While he rejected Jones's assertions, he noted that the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the auction made an error in judgment. According to Judge Lopez, the trustee failed to foster further bidding between The Onion and a competing bid from a company linked to Jones's supplement business, ultimately resulting in a less favorable outcome.
The Onion underscored that their bid was backed by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, who successfully won a $1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones for his repeated claims that the 2012 massacre was a hoax. Judge Lopez criticized the manner of the auction, stating it should have been reopened to allow more participants.
Once a marginal figure rooted in 1990s Austin, Texas, Jones escalated his influence as he began broadcasting theories that attracted millions of followers, despite being widely discredited. His financial struggles were largely precipitated by his post-Sandy Hook commentary, which led to intense harassment directed at victims’ families, including threats and public doxing.
Jones ultimately acknowledged the reality of the Sandy Hook tragedy, albeit asserting that his vocal opinions fell under the umbrella of free speech protections. Regardless, numerous legal actions culminated in the families securing significant defamation judgments against him, prompting Jones's bankruptcy declaration in 2022.
Ongoing legal proceedings include plans for the liquidation of Jones's assets, valued at approximately $8.6 million, spanning various properties and high-value items. This latest decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over accountability and truth in journalism and media.
The judge's ruling came as a response to Jones's allegations of "collusion" during the auction process, which he claimed unfairly impacted the final bids. While he rejected Jones's assertions, he noted that the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the auction made an error in judgment. According to Judge Lopez, the trustee failed to foster further bidding between The Onion and a competing bid from a company linked to Jones's supplement business, ultimately resulting in a less favorable outcome.
The Onion underscored that their bid was backed by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, who successfully won a $1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones for his repeated claims that the 2012 massacre was a hoax. Judge Lopez criticized the manner of the auction, stating it should have been reopened to allow more participants.
Once a marginal figure rooted in 1990s Austin, Texas, Jones escalated his influence as he began broadcasting theories that attracted millions of followers, despite being widely discredited. His financial struggles were largely precipitated by his post-Sandy Hook commentary, which led to intense harassment directed at victims’ families, including threats and public doxing.
Jones ultimately acknowledged the reality of the Sandy Hook tragedy, albeit asserting that his vocal opinions fell under the umbrella of free speech protections. Regardless, numerous legal actions culminated in the families securing significant defamation judgments against him, prompting Jones's bankruptcy declaration in 2022.
Ongoing legal proceedings include plans for the liquidation of Jones's assets, valued at approximately $8.6 million, spanning various properties and high-value items. This latest decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over accountability and truth in journalism and media.
