The ruling underlines ongoing tensions between the conspiracy theorist and victims' families, post the Sandy Hook incident.
**Judge Blocks The Onion's Bid for Infowars Following Controversial Auction**
**Judge Blocks The Onion's Bid for Infowars Following Controversial Auction**
A US bankruptcy judge has rejected The Onion's bid to purchase Alex Jones's Infowars website, calling the auction process into question.
In a striking legal decision, Judge Christopher Lopez blocked the sale of Alex Jones's Infowars website to the satirical news outlet The Onion, stating that the auction failed to secure the best offers available. The judge's ruling came after a two-day hearing, where he dismissed Jones's allegations of collusion during the bidding process.
The Onion's bid included financial backing from the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who successfully sued Jones for spreading fabricated information about the tragedy. Judge Lopez indicated that the bankruptcy trustee responsible for overseeing the sale made a "good-faith error" by not reopening the auction for bids. Instead, he emphasized the need for a more competitive bidding process, suggesting that there should have been further negotiations among all interested parties.
Celebrating the ruling, Jones criticized the auction as "fraudulent," while The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins, expressed disappointment but reiterated the outlet's commitment to bid for Infowars again. Once a fringe operation in Austin, Texas, Jones has risen to prominence with his blend of conspiracy theories and sensationalized content, mostly supported through his online merchandise, including vitamins.
The financial troubles that plague both Jones and Infowars can be traced back to the fallout from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, where 20 children and six staff members lost their lives. In the aftermath, Jones propagated numerous conspiracy theories that questioned the legitimacy of the tragedy, leading to significant harassment of the victims' families, some of whom received disturbing communications and threats.
Although Jones later acknowledged the veracity of the shooting, the damage was done, resulting in substantial defamation judgments against him. Following his declaration of bankruptcy in 2022, further actions led to a court ruling in June 2024 that ordered the liquidation of Jones's personal assets, which were valued at approximately $8.6 million. The outcome of the Infowars auction reflects the complex intersection of satire, conspiracy theories, and the enduring impact of misinformation in society.
