Alex Jones: US conspiracy theorist ordered to pay $965m to Sandy Hook massacre victims he defamed | US News

A jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $965 million in punitive damages to the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting.

After a gunman killed 20 children and six employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December 2012, Jones accused bereaved family members of actors who faked the massacre.

Those who gave tearful testimony at a state court included the families of five students and three teachers who were killed. An FBI agent was among the first responders who also participated in the lawsuit.

Some of them hugged after the verdict was announced. Jones was not present, but video from the courtroom was played on a split-screen during his performance on his Infowars website.

While concluding arguments in the defamation lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorney said Jones used lies about the shooting to drive traffic to Infowars and drive sales of its products. different that it offers.

Jones described the case as a “kangaroo court”, mocking the judge, calling the plaintiff’s attorney an ambulance chaser and saying the case was an affront to free speech.

However, attorney Chris Mattei said the families had endured a decades-long campaign of harassment and death threats by Jones’ followers.

“Every single one of these families[was]in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot on their heads,” he told jurors.

Principal Sandy Hook’s daughter, Dawn Hochsprung, who was among the victims, testified that rape threats were sent to her home.

Mark Barden said conspiracy theorists urinated on the grave of his 7-year-old son, Daniel, and threatened to dig up the coffin.

Read more: Who is Alex Jones?

Jones’ attorney, Norman Pattis, stated in his final argument that the plaintiffs presented little evidence of quantifiable damages.

“This is not a case of politics,” Mr. Pattis said. “It’s about how much compensation to the plaintiffs.”

Jones has now admitted that the shooting took place.

But he fought back against “liberal” critics throughout the trial and refused to apologize to his family.

In a similar case in August, another jury concluded that Jones and his company must pay $49.3 million to Sandy Hook’s parents. That case was held in Austin, Texas, where Infowars is headquartered.

Jones also faces a third trial, again in Texas, sometime earlier in the year.

It’s unclear how much he can afford. During the trial in August, he said he could not accept a sentence in excess of $2 million.

However, an economist who testified in Austin said Jones and his company were worth up to $270 million.