Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, infamous for calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax, faces nearly $1.5 billion in legal judgments awarded to the victims’ families. These families have now proposed a settlement in Jones’ personal bankruptcy case, offering to resolve the massive debt for a fraction of the amount, seeking at least $85 million over a decade.
This settlement offer was presented in a Houston court, as part of Jones’ bankruptcy proceedings. Lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families stated in legal documents that they believe this proposal provides a feasible path forward in the bankruptcy reorganizations of both Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems.
However, the legal filing didn’t hold back on criticizing the Infowars host. Attorneys accused Jones of continuing his “extravagant lifestyle” and excessive personal spending, neglecting to protect the value of his assets, and being unwilling to sell assets or fully disclose financial documents.
Infowars founder Alex Jones in court during the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial in New London, Conn. on Sept. 22, 2022.
Alex Jones in court during the Sandy Hook defamation trial, facing judgments for his hoax claims.
The Sandy Hook families’ legal team asserted, “Jones has consistently failed to act as the fiduciary required by the Bankruptcy Code, despite the temporary financial relief he has received for almost a year. His time to evade responsibility is over.”
Their settlement proposal presented two options to Jones: liquidate his assets to compensate creditors, or commit to a payment plan of at least $8.5 million annually for 10 years. Additionally, the plan demands 50% of any yearly income Jones earns above $9 million.
During a court hearing, Vickie Driver, Alex Jones’ bankruptcy lawyer, argued that the proposed $85 million settlement over 10 years was excessively high and unrealistic for Jones to fulfill.
“There are no financials that will ever show that Mr. Jones ever made that … in 10 years,” Driver stated, suggesting Jones’ inability to meet the offered terms.
Free Speech Systems, Jones’ company, outlined its financial capacity in a bankruptcy plan submitted on November 18. The company claimed it could afford approximately $4 million annually to pay creditors, a downward revision from earlier estimates of $7 million to $10 million per year. Projections for the following year estimate revenues of $19.2 million from merchandise sales, including dietary supplements and apparel promoted on Jones’ platforms. Operating expenses, including salaries, are projected to reach $14.3 million.
In his most recent financial disclosures submitted to the bankruptcy court, Jones declared total assets of around $13 million, including approximately $856,000 in bank accounts.
Under previous bankruptcy court orders, Jones received a bi-weekly salary of $20,000, equating to $520,000 annually. However, a court-appointed restructuring officer recently increased Jones’ bi-weekly pay to approximately $57,700, or $1.5 million per year. This substantial raise was justified by the officer who argued Jones was “grossly” underpaid considering his crucial role in the media company’s operations.
However, Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected this $1.5 million salary increase on Monday. Judge Lopez cited procedural irregularities in the pay raise approval and mandated a hearing to properly review the matter under bankruptcy law.
If Alex Jones rejects the settlement offer from the Sandy Hook families, Judge Lopez will ultimately decide the payment amount Jones will be obligated to pay to the families and other creditors.
The legal battles stem from Jones’ repeated false claims following the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, where 20 children and six educators were killed. Jones propagated the lie that the shooting was a fabricated event intended to promote stricter gun control measures.
Families of many Sandy Hook victims pursued legal action against Jones in both Connecticut and Texas, resulting in judgments against him totaling nearly $1.5 billion. In October, Judge Lopez ruled that Jones could not use bankruptcy protections to evade over $1.1 billion of this debt.
During the trials, family members recounted the harassment and threats they endured from Jones’ followers, who acted on his conspiracy theories by sending menacing messages and even confronting grieving families in person, accusing them of being “crisis actors” and denying the reality of their children’s deaths.
Alex Jones is currently appealing the judgments, asserting that he did not receive fair trials and that his statements are protected under the First Amendment. The question of whether and how much Alex Jones will ultimately pay to the Sandy Hook families remains uncertain as the legal process continues.
