A Connecticut judge ordered Infowars host Alex Jones to pay an additional $473 million on top of the damages he’s already incurred for promoting false conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, bringing the total amount Jones owes to the families of the victims who sued him to $1.44 billion.
Judge Barbara Bellis imposed the punitive damages on Thursday against Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, writing in a 45-page ruling, “The record clearly supports the plaintiffs’ argument that the defendants’ conduct was intentional and malicious, and certain to cause harm by virtue of their infrastructure, ability to spread content, and massive audience including the infowarriors.”
Jones repeatedly told his millions of listeners that the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, which killed 20 first graders and six adults, was a staged event to promote gun control, damaging the reputations of the victims’ relatives and exposing them to threats.
Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the families, said he hopes the award sends a message to conspiracy theorists who profit from lies.
On his show Thursday, Jones called the award “ridiculous” and a “joke” and said he has “almost nothing” in terms of being able to pay the damages.
