Infowars Ownership Deal Collapses In Stunning Blow To Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones

A US bankruptcy court has rejected the sale of Infowars to parody news site The Onion, citing a “good-faith error” made by the court-appointed trustee. This decision marks a significant blow to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who had hoped to offload his beleaguered media empire amidst mounting financial and reputational pressures.

The Onion’s cash offer of $7 million, which included a provision allowing some proceeds from the sale to be distributed to creditors representing Sandy Hook families, was deemed insufficient by Judge Christopher Lopez. However, in a stunning twist, the judge ruled that the trustee had missed an opportunity to allow open bidding between The Onion and First American United Companies, a rival bidder affiliated with Jones’ business interests.

First American’s loss of the auction bid has sparked accusations of foul play, with the company claiming it was unfairly barred from engaging in back-and-forth negotiations. Christopher Murray, the trustee, has since distanced himself from the criticism, stating that First American only complained about the process after losing out to The Onion.

The decision is a significant victory for The Onion, which had expressed enthusiasm for acquiring Infowars with the aim of transforming it into a platform with “noticeably less hateful disinformation.” Plans were also in place for a gun safety nonprofit to advertise on the revamped site. In contrast, Alex Jones’ reputation continues to suffer from his conviction in 2022 for nearly $1.5 billion in damages related to spreading conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook shooting.

As Infowars remains under the control of its embattled owner, the social media landscape is facing a new challenge. Last week, X announced that it would not be transferring Alex Jones’ Infowars accounts to The Onion, sparking renewed debate over ownership and accountability on these platforms. With the future of Infowars hanging in the balance, one thing is clear: the battle for truth and credibility will continue to play out in the courts and on social media.