Alex Jones’ media company files for bankruptcy amid defamation trial

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media firm Free Speech Methods filed for chapter on Friday — however his legal professional stated it mustn’t disrupt the defamation damages trial underway in Texas that seeks to pressure Jones to pay $150 million or extra to the household of one of many kids killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary College assault.

The trial in Austin, the place Jones lives and Free Speech Methods relies, wrapped up its first week of testimony Friday and is predicted to conclude subsequent week. The chapter submitting was introduced by Jones’ legal professional Andino Reynal late within the day.

Reynal and attorneys for the household suing Jones instructed Decide Maya Guerra Gamble that the chapter submitting wouldn’t halt the lawsuit.

The corporate needs “to place this a part of the odyssey behind us in order that we now have some numbers” set for damages, Reynal stated.

Particulars of the chapter submitting weren’t instantly out there.

It isn’t the primary time a chapter submitting has come amid litigation towards Jones by the Sandy Hook households. In April, Jones’ firm Infowars and two extra of his enterprise entities filed for chapter safety, which led to a trial delay. Free Speech Methods is the father or mother firm of Infowars.

Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones answerable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook bloodbath as a hoax involving actors geared toward rising gun management. In each states, judges issued default judgements towards Jones with out trials as a result of he failed to answer courtroom orders and switch over paperwork.

Christopher Mattei, an legal professional for the Sandy Hook households within the Connecticut case, issued an announcement Friday night blasting the chapter submitting.

“Simply two days earlier than jury choice is because of start in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has as soon as once more fled like a coward to chapter courtroom in a clear try and delay going through the households that he has spent years hurting,” Mattei stated. “These households have an limitless properly of endurance and stay decided to carry Mr. Jones accountable in a Connecticut courtroom.”

The trial in Austin is to find out how a lot Jones ought to pay for defaming Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was among the many 20 kids and 6 educators who had been killed within the nation’s deadliest faculty capturing. They and different Sandy Hook households suing Jones say they’ve suffered years of harassment and threats ensuing from Jones’ repeated false claims that the capturing was a hoax or did not occur.

Jones claimed in courtroom data final yr that he had a detrimental web price of $20 million, however attorneys for Sandy Hook households have painted a unique monetary image.

Court docket data present that Jones’ Infowars retailer, which sells dietary dietary supplements and survival gear, made greater than $165 million between 2015 and 2018. Jones has additionally urged listeners on his Infowars program to donate cash.