A US federal bankruptcy judge ruled on Thursday that bankruptcy proceedings will not protect Infowars host Alex Jones from having to pay compensation to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims.
• Read also: How conspiracy theorist Alex Jones turned misinformation into a goose that lays golden eggs
• Read also: American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones declares bankruptcy
Mr. Jones declared bankruptcy last December after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion ($2 billion Canadian) in the Connecticut case, brought by the families of eight shooting victims and one of the rescuers, CNN Business reports.
These families had filed lawsuits against Mr. Jones for his false statements regarding the December 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 26 people dead, including 20 children.
The conspiracy theorist and other InfoWars figures described the massacre as a hoax. On the other hand, the victims’ families accused them of being actors in crises.
By declaring bankruptcy, Alex Jones hoped to get rid of his crushing debts.
The families filed a motion in May asking the court to force Alex Jones to pay damages.
Had he been forced to settle through bankruptcy, Jones would have liquidated his broadcast company and likely paid the families a much smaller amount in damages.
This scenario would also have allowed the conspirator to create a new company, which would be free of any complaints.
The judge in charge of the case ruled on Thursday against Mr. Jones, who must still pay $1.1 billion ($1.5 billion Canadian) in damages to the affected families.
