Dec. 11 (UPI) — A U.S. Bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ InfoWars media platform to satirical media outlet The Onion.
The onion had won the right to buy InfoWars on Nov. 14 in a bankruptcy auction held to help pay down a $1.5 billion defamation verdict against the far-right commentator.
Jones was ordered to pay the penalty to families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, whom he was found guilty of defaming by spreading false conspiracy theories that the shooting was a hoax, staged by actors in order to convince politicians to enforce gun control.
Ben Collins, chief executive officer of The Onion’s parent company Global Tetrahedron, said in a statement on BlueSky that they are “deeply disappointed” by the late Tuesday decision and “will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured.”
Collins said The Onion will persist in its efforts to purchase InfoWars as part of its mission “to make a better, funnier Internet, regardless of the outcome of this case.”
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez of Houston blocked the sale of InfoWars to The Onion on the grounds of issues with the auction process, though there was no wrongdoing, The Hill reported.
The trustee who oversaw the auction will determine next steps, Lopez said as he did not want another auction to be held.
Though the decision leaves the future of InfoWars unknown, a defiant Jones celebrated it as a victory, saying in an InfoWars broadcast that “finally, a judge followed the law.”
“Major cause of action,” he said. “And I’m not a litigious person, but they are trying to destroy us and destroy free speech, so you know what’s going to happen to them.”
He accused The Onion of being a front company while alleging crimes of bid rigging, price fixing and collusion had been committed in the auction, which he said should be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.
Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, expressed his disappointment in a statement.
“This families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks remains resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused,” Mattei said.
“This decision doesn’t change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes.”