Alex Jones rose to prominence as one of the greatest hucksters in the history of new media. Jones’ InfoWars network spread misinformation and lies for years, all as a vehicle to sell advertising and questionable nutrition supplements. Jones finally got his comeuppance after claiming the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting never happened.

Families of the victims sued Jones for defamation. A court ordered him to pay massive damages to the families after destroying their reputation and dragging the memory of their loved ones through the mud. Now, Alex Jones has filed for bankruptcy to avoid making the payouts.

The BBC reports that Jones’ company will still be able to operate as it reorganizes and negotiates its debts under the bankruptcy plan. InfoWars was deplatformed from most major streaming sites and networks in the wake of Alex Jones’ numerous misinformation campaigns. Jones’ lies made him a boatload of money, even as families grieved their children.

In a court filing, the families collectively accused Alex Jones of deceiving the public to make money. Jones has since acknowledged that the shooting did take place. The conspiratorial talking head believes the suits infringe on his free speech. The families rejected an offer by Jones to settle the suits.

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“The so-called offer is a transparent and desperate attempt by Alex Jones to escape a public reckoning under oath with his deceitful, profit-driven campaign against the plaintiffs and the memory of their loved ones lost at Sandy Hook,” the families said in court filings.

InfoWars was listed as having assets of less than $50,000 in the suit. Their liabilities range from $1 million to $10 million. It’s no wonder Alex Jones is trying to avoid paying up.

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Michael Perry

Michael Perry is a news contributor for Ringside News and Thirsty for News. Michael has an M.A. in Communication Technology from Point Park University in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA.

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