Right-wing American journalist, owner of media company Infowars and supporter of various conspiracy theories, Alex Jones is ordered to pay an additional $45.2 million in compensation for spreading false information about the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012. The verdict was handed down by a jury on Friday, August 5, in Austin, Texas. The day before, Jones had already been sentenced to damages in excess of $4 million. As a result, the fine amounted to nearly $50 million.

Influential journalist and Trump supporter

During the massacre at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, the assailant shot 20 children and six adults before committing suicide. Meanwhile, Jones subsequently repeatedly stated that there were no attacks. He said the incident was staged by actors hired to tighten gun laws in the US. As a result, several parents sued Jones.

Alex Jones, a highly influential right-winger and supporter of former US President Donald Trump, made a lot of money spreading conspiracy theories. In particular, he alleged that the US government was involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York.

Jones also supported Trump’s false claim that his presidential election defeat was the result of massive fraud. The journalist was also in Washington when radical Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. As part of this case, he was interrogated behind closed doors by a congressional commission of inquiry into the Capitol invasion.

In April, Jones filed for bankruptcy for his media company, Infowars. And last week, he also announced the bankruptcy of another company he owns – Free Speech Systems.