Texas conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ appeal rejected by Supreme Court, forcing him to pay $1.4 billion to Sandy Hook families
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up an appeal by Austin conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of a lower court judge’s ruling requiring him to pay $1.4 billion in damages to families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the New York Times reports.
Following the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut that took the lives of 20 children and six adults, InfoWars founder Jones popularized the conspiracy theory that the attack was a “false flag” — or an orchestrated hoax — to enact stricter gun legislation. He also claimed the victims’ families were paid actors.
The families of some victims later sued Jones for defamation, saying they received death and rape threats by Jones’ followers. A lower court awarded the families $1.4 billion in damages — an amount Jones’ lawyers argued is a “financial death penalty” and “an amount that can never be paid,” according to the Times. Jones has even said he may be forced to auction off his cat to pay for the Sandy Hook debt.
In rejecting Jones’ appeal, the Supreme Court didn’t issue an accompanying statement.
Jones’ lawyers argued that he should be afforded First Amendment protections due to the large following he has for his InfoWars program, where the host peddles conspiracy theories about the Deep State and fluoride in water “turning the frogs gay,” among other gems.
Jones is a known fixture in Austin, where he got his start shouting outlandish things into a bullhorn at protests — something he is still known to do on occasion.
In response to the Supreme Court’s rejection, an attorney for the families said the justices “properly rejected Jones’s latest desperate attempt to avoid accountability for the harm he has caused.”
“We look forward to enforcing the jury’s historic verdict and making Jones and Infowars pay for what they have done,” attorney Chris Mattei said in a statement.
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