Topline
The $1.4 billion judgment against Alex Jones for claiming the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a “hoax” will stand, as the Supreme Court on Tuesday rebuffed the right-wing commentator’s request for the court to take up the case and overturn the ruling against him.
Infowars host Alex Jones arrives at the Texas State Capital building on April 18, 2020 in Austin, Texas.
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Key Facts
The Supreme Court declined to take up Jones’ case, rejecting it for oral arguments Tuesday without commenting at all on their reasoning.
Jones was found liable for $1.4 billion in a lawsuit brought by the families of victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, who argued the Infowars host committed defamation by spreading false conspiracy theories alleging the shooting was a “hoax.”
The right-wing commentator asked the Supreme Court to revisit that ruling and reconsider the 10-figure judgment against him, arguing the defamation complaint against him selectively quoted things he said about the mass shooting and he was not given a proper chance to defend himself in court.
Jones, who filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after the judgement against him had been issued, also took issue with the massive sum he owes, arguing it’s a “financial death penalty” that cannot be paid.
He also asked the Supreme Court to declare more broadly that for “media defendants reporting on matters of undeniable public concern,” courts should not be allowed to issue rulings without a full trial, impose liability “for the acts of unrelated third parties,” or allow sanctions based on those acts.
Jones’ company Infowars has not yet responded to a request for comment.
What To Watch For
While the Supreme Court’s ruling means the $1.4 billion Jones owes will stand, the right-wing figure is separately still in the process of appealing a smaller $49 million judgment against him, the Associated Press notes. That ruling, which was decided by a jury in 2022, also concerns his comments about the Sandy Hook shooting and was brought by parents of one of the victims. A judge previously refused to lower the judgment months after the trial, in November 2022.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
