On Wednesday, Infowars, the controversial platform known for spreading conspiracy theories, and most of its associated assets are slated for auction as part of host Alex Jones’ personal bankruptcy proceedings. This situation arises from the staggering nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuit judgments that a judge and jury mandated Jones to pay to the families of those affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. He had falsely claimed that the heartbreaking event, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults, was a fabricated incident orchestrated by crisis actors.
As the auction day approaches, Jones has expressed hope that if supporters succeed in the bidding, he may be allowed to remain at the Infowars studios located in Austin, Texas, and keep using their online platforms. In contrast, he cautioned that if individuals opposed to him acquire the assets, it could lead to an immediate shutdown of his operations. To prepare for such a scenario, Jones mentioned that he has been establishing a new studio, websites, and social media accounts.
In his broadcast on Tuesday, Jones asserted that he believes the auction is “rigged” and suspects that “bad guys” will end up purchasing Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, along with its assets. Although he did not provide specific details, he confidently stated that he would find alternative methods to broadcast, mentioning he could simply “drive down the road” to another studio.
The items set for sale at the auction are extensive, encompassing everything from Jones’ studio desk and Infowars’ brand name to a vast video archive, social media accounts, product trademarks, and even unique items like an armored truck and video cameras. Any items that do not find buyers during this auction will be available in a subsequent auction next month.
It remains uncertain whether the bidders will be revealed on Wednesday. The bankruptcy trustee managing Jones’ case has three business days to report the winning bidder information to a federal court in Texas.
After a lengthy period of denial, Jones has since acknowledged that the Sandy Hook shooting was indeed real and is currently in the process of appealing the defamation verdicts against him.
