New York

US Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones‘ Infowars media platform will be auctioned off to pay for the $1.5 billion he has been ordered to cough up in damages to the family members of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. 

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During a court hearing on Tuesday (Sep 24), US Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said he would approve the auctions that start in November. 

Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for Sandy Hook families said Judge Lopez's decision was a significant step forward in holding the right-wing personality accountable for his actions. 

"Alex Jones will no longer own or control the company he built. This brings the families closer to their goal of holding him accountable for the harm he has caused," Mattei said in a statement.

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Under the terms of the sale, anyone can bid for Infowars' assets, whether supporters or detractors. 

"It's very cut and dry that the assets of Free Speech Systems, the website, the equipment, the shopping cart, all that, can be sold. And they know full well that there are a bunch of patriot buyers, and then the operation can ease on," Jones recently said on his show.

Despite losing the company, Jones had vowed to continue his talk shows through other means - possibly through a new website and on his personal social media handles.   

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According to the previous court filings, Jones has about $9 million in personal assets and his company has about $6 million in cash on hand and about $1.2 million worth of inventory. He and his company already filed for bankruptcy in 2022. 

Watch | Alex Jones claimed 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre as staged, ordered to pay $1.5 billion to victims

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Jones' conspiracy theory 

Jones was one of the most prominent conspiracy theorists, spreading lies about the school shooting where 20 children and six teachers were killed.

He accused the families of being actors and claimed that the shooting was a "hoax" as part of an elaborate plan to take away gun rights from American citizens.    

Also read | Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' account reinstated on X after being banned for nearly five years

During the court trials in Texas and Connecticut, the families of the victims testified that they were traumatised by Jones' persistence with the lies and the hoax conspiracies. 

The families alleged that Jones' online legion of followers confronted them by claiming that the shooting never happened and that the kids never existed. 

Since then, Jones has acknowledged that the Sandy Hook shooting was "100 per cent real". 

"Especially since I've met the parents. It's 100% real," Jones said. 

(With inputs from agencies)