Alex Jones: Laws Broken And Legal Consequences

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been found liable for defamation by default in four Sandy Hook defamation cases. Jones, who has a history of making false and dangerous claims, was sued by Sandy Hook families for spreading the lie that the 2012 Newtown school shooting was a hoax. A jury in Texas ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of a Sandy Hook victim, and he faces additional trials and lawsuits. Jones has been banned from several platforms for violating hate speech policies and continues to insist that his comments are protected by free speech.

Jones' lawyer shared privileged information with the opposition

In 2018, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was sued for defamation in Texas and Connecticut by the parents of children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This came after Jones called the tragedy a "hoax" and questioned its legitimacy.

During the damages phase in Texas, Jones learned on the witness stand that his lawyers had inadvertently disclosed the entire contents of his cellphone messages to the other side. This was a highly unusual move, as such disclosures are usually limited to messages between Jones and his attorney, which are protected by attorney-client privilege.

The disclosure was a clear mistake on the part of Jones's legal team, and it had significant consequences. It provided the opposition with a wealth of information, including potentially privileged communications between Jones and his attorney. This information could be used to the detriment of Jones's case, potentially influencing the jury's decision on damages.

The mistake also raised questions about the competence of Jones's legal team and their handling of electronically stored information (ESI). The disclosure of the cellphone data was a serious breach of privacy and a rare occurrence, leading to concerns about the potential consequences for Jones's counsel.

The incident highlighted the risks associated with electronic disclosures and the importance of competent legal representation. It also demonstrated the complex nature of attorney-client privilege and the potential consequences when privileged information is inadvertently shared with the opposition.

Jones' Infowars web show banned from YouTube, Facebook, Spotify for hate speech

In 2018, Alex Jones was banned from YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify for violating their policies on hate speech and harassment. Jones, a far-right conspiracy theorist, had been accused of spreading hate speech against Muslims, immigrants, and transgender people, as well as bullying and glorifying violence. Jones's show Infowars had also been banned from YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify, along with other platforms like iTunes, Vimeo, and Roku.

Jones's shows, which are broadcast on radio and online platforms, claimed to reach at least 70 million people a week. The bans by major tech companies reflected a more aggressive enforcement of policies against hate speech and came after protests on social media. Facebook, in particular, had been under fire for not banning Jones and was pressured by families of Sandy Hook victims, who were harassed and threatened by people who believed Jones's false claim that the shooting was staged.

Jones's lawyer, Norm Pattis, argued that his client had a constitutional right to espouse conspiracy theories and that he should be regarded as a "crank on the village green" who could be ignored. However, Jones was found liable for damages, and a jury ordered him to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of a Sandy Hook victim.

Despite the bans and legal consequences, Jones has continued to appeal the judgments against him and insists that his comments are protected by free speech. He views the lawsuits as efforts to silence him and put him out of business.

Jones' conspiracy theories caused emotional and psychological harm

Several families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre sued conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for causing emotional and psychological harm. Jones had claimed that the shooting was staged and that crisis actors were involved. He also alleged that the event was a hoax intended to help justify a government-led confiscation of Americans' guns.

Jones' conspiracy theories led to his fans harassing the families of Sandy Hook victims. This included death threats, social media harassment, and strangers recording them and their surviving children. The harassment was so severe that some families moved out of Newtown, where the shooting took place, to escape Jones' followers. One family reportedly moved 10 times over the years to avoid harassment.

In addition to the emotional distress caused by the conspiracy theories, the families of the victims also suffered financial harm. They claimed that when Jones talked about Sandy Hook, he boosted his audience and profited from selling supplements, clothing, and other items. A forensic economist testified that Jones was worth up to $270 million, while Jones claimed that any award over $2 million would "sink" him.

Jones was found in violation of the Unfair Trade Practices Act by intentionally causing emotional distress and defamation aimed at the plaintiffs. A judge ruled that Jones was liable for damages caused by his conspiracy theories and ordered him to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of one of the slain children. The judge's ruling set a precedent for holding individuals accountable for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories that cause harm to others.

Jones' attorney portrayed him as a 'crank' with constitutional rights

In September 2022, a trial began in Waterbury, Connecticut, to determine how much conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay the relatives of victims of the 2012 Newtown school shooting. Jones had falsely claimed that the shooting was a hoax.

Jones was portrayed by a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families as a "bully". His own attorney, Norm Pattis, portrayed him as a "crank in a town square who should be ignored". Pattis argued that Jones had a constitutional right to espouse conspiracy theories and asked the jury:

> "At what point do we regard him as a crank on the village green, a person we can walk away from if we choose?"

Pattis conceded that Jones is liable for damages but argued that any award should be minimal. He alleged that the families were overstating the harm caused by Jones.

Jones now says he believes the shooting was real. He testified at the Texas trial that he realises his comments were irresponsible and apologised for them. However, he continues to insist that his comments were protected by free speech. He views the lawsuits as efforts to silence him and put him out of business.

Jones' ex-wife's lawyer questioned him on marijuana use

During a custody trial, Alex Jones was questioned about his drug and alcohol use by his ex-wife's lawyer. Jones admitted that he "sometimes smokes marijuana – nearly yearly – 'to monitor its strength, which is how law enforcement does it.'". He also added that he believed high-grade weed was too strong and that this was the fault of billionaire and political donor, George Soros, who he claimed had brain damaged a lot of people.

Jones' ex-wife, Kelly Jones, was seeking joint or full custody of their three young children. During the trial, Jones also admitted to recently smoking weed while appearing on Joe Rogan's podcast, stating that it was legal in California and that "everybody smokes marijuana on that show".

In addition to Jones' drug use, his consumption of zebra meat was also brought up during the trial. His ex-wife is a former member of PETA.

Jones was portrayed as a "bully" by the lawyer for Sandy Hook families, while his own attorney described him as a "crank in a town square who should be ignored".

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