Judge Denies Sale of Infowars to Parody Site Amid Sandy Hook Controversy

Sat Feb 07 2026 03:26:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of Alex Jones's Infowars to The Onion, citing procedural errors and concerns over proper bidding practices.

In a ruling that highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Alex Jones's Infowars and the fallout from the Sandy Hook tragedy, a US judge has blocked the auction sale to The Onion, emphasizing the need for a fair bidding process.

A US bankruptcy judge has struck down the sale of Alex Jones's Infowars to the satirical news entity The Onion, marking a significant moment in the ongoing saga surrounding Jones's controversial history. After two days of hearings, Judge Christopher Lopez announced that the auction for Infowars failed to yield the most competitive bids, rejecting Jones's claims of "collusion" in the process.

The Onion had secured funding from families of Sandy Hook victims, who previously secured a $1.5 billion defamation ruling against Jones for his false claims regarding the tragic event. Yet, Judge Lopez termed the mistake made by the bankruptcy trustee in charge an oversight, suggesting that the process should have inspired more competitive bidding rather than rushing to final offers.

Lopez stated, "This should have been opened back up, and it should have been opened back up for everybody," criticizing the assumption that the auction had yielded adequate results. Jones has fostered a large following since starting as a fringe broadcaster in Texas during the 90s, gaining notoriety for a mix of conspiracy theories, opinionated commentary, and misinformation.

The financial troubles surrounding Infowars stem from Jones's egregious claims made after the 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting, which left 20 children and six educators dead. Following the tragedy, Jones and his guests claimed the incident was fabricated, resulting in widespread harassment and distress for the victims' families.

Despite eventually acknowledging the reality of the shooting, Jones's statements have prompted legal consequences, leading to multiple defamation judgements against him and his company. His financial troubles culminated in a bankruptcy declaration in 2022, with Judge Lopez recently ordering the liquidation of Jones's personal assets, including properties and vehicles amounting to $8.6 million.

This ruling not only symbolizes the continued legal ramifications for Jones but also casts a light on the wider societal issues concerning the spread of disinformation and its real-world impacts.