A federal judge has halted the sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars website to the satirical news outlet The Onion, citing flaws in the bankruptcy auction process. The decision comes after Jones raised concerns about the transparency of the sale, and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that the auction did not result in the best possible outcomes for creditors, particularly the families affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
The auction, held as part of Jones’ bankruptcy proceedings, was initially declared in favor of The Onion, which offered $1.75 million in cash alongside other incentives. This bid was supplemented by an agreement from the Sandy Hook families—Jones’ largest creditors—to forgo $750,000 of the proceeds to benefit other creditors. By contrast, the competing bid from First American United Companies, an organization tied to Jones’ supplement business, totaled $3.5 million in cash but did not offer similar concessions.
Judge Lopez found no evidence of collusion in the auction process but noted procedural errors, such as a lack of back-and-forth bidding that could have maximized the value of Infowars for creditors. “This should have been opened back up for everyone,” Lopez said, adding that the auction left “a lot of money on the table” for the Sandy Hook families and other creditors. The judge has instructed the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee, Christopher Murray, to address disputes among creditors and work toward a new resolution.
The bankruptcy case stems from Jones’ obligation to pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation damages awarded to the families of 20 children and six educators killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. Courts in Connecticut and Texas ruled that Jones defamed the families by repeatedly claiming the shooting was a hoax. Jones has since acknowledged the tragedy but continues to face financial and legal repercussions.
The Onion had planned to relaunch Infowars as a parody platform in 2025, aiming to replace its controversial content with satirical material. In a statement following the auction, The Onion’s CEO Bell Collins described plans for a “very funny, very stupid website” that would provide a stark contrast to the platform’s previous content. The satire outlet also secured backing from the gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety as its exclusive launch advertiser.
Jones, who did not attend the proceedings in person, criticized the auction on his broadcast, alleging bias and procedural missteps. His legal team argued that The Onion’s bid relied on “smoke and mirrors,” referencing the support from Sandy Hook families, which they claimed unfairly tipped the scales in The Onion’s favor.
Murray, the trustee overseeing the auction, defended the fairness of the process. He testified that both bidders had access to the same information and that The Onion’s bid provided more overall value to creditors, despite its lower cash offer. Murray also dismissed accusations of bias, asserting that First American United Companies only objected to the process after its bid was rejected.
The future of Infowars now remains uncertain. While Jones has prepared alternative broadcasting platforms in case the sale goes through, he continues to appeal the defamation judgments, citing free speech concerns. Meanwhile, the trustee will need to reassess how best to sell Infowars’ assets, which include its studio equipment, social media accounts, and trademarks, to maximize returns for creditors.
This case highlights the complexities of bankruptcy proceedings involving high-profile and polarizing figures. As the legal wrangling continues, it underscores the financial and reputational fallout from Jones’ years of spreading conspiracy theories. Whether Infowars will eventually be transformed into a parody site or remain under Jones’ control will depend on the outcome of the ongoing bankruptcy process.
