Alex Jones Fights to Keep Social Media Accounts as Infowars Faces Auction
Controversial media figure Alex Jones is battling to protect his personal social media accounts from being auctioned off as part of the liquidation of his Infowars media platform. The auction, scheduled for November and December, aims to raise funds to pay over $1 billion owed to Sandy Hook families following defamation lawsuits.
Jones argues that selling his accounts would violate his privacy and hinder his ability to start anew after bankruptcy. The trustee overseeing the Infowars liquidation has asked a judge to include these social media accounts in the auction, citing their significant value and follower counts.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez has delayed his decision for at least a week, seeking clarity on what can be sold. Jones’ lawyers contend that the personal accounts are part of his “persona” and not owned by Infowars. They also raised concerns about potential lawsuits for purchasers of the accounts.
In addition to social media accounts, the trustee is looking to sell rights to royalties from Jones’ 2022 book, “The Great Reset: And the War for the World,” and his 2023 video game, “Alex Jones NWO Wars.”
Despite these challenges, Jones has vowed to continue his talk shows through new means. He suggested that supporters could purchase Infowars assets, allowing him to continue as an employee.
The trustee argues that the social media accounts, used to promote Infowars content, are valuable assets with significant follower counts. Jones’ X (formerly Twitter) account alone boasts nearly 3 million followers. Multiple parties have expressed interest in purchasing these accounts.
The legal landscape surrounding the sale of these accounts remains complex, with potential litigation depending on who purchases them and how they intend to use them.
This auction comes in the wake of Jones and his company filing for bankruptcy in 2022 after Sandy Hook families won nearly $1.5 billion in defamation lawsuits. The families testified about the trauma they endured from Jones’ conspiracy theories, including harassment and threats from his followers.
While Jones now acknowledges that the Sandy Hook shooting occurred, he continues to appeal the verdicts, citing free speech concerns. The outcome of this auction and the fate of Jones’ social media accounts remain uncertain as legal proceedings continue.