Alex Jones Must Pay ADDITIONAL $473 Million To Sandy Hook Families
Alex Jones was already ordered to pay a hundred-million-dollar settlement over his defamatory comments made about the Sandy Hook school shooting. But now, the radio host is going to have to pay even more to the victims’ family.
According to NBC News, Alex and his company Free Speech Systems Jones will also have to pay $473 million in punitive damages to the families, a judge ruled on Thursday.
The Connecticut lawsuit was originally filed against Alex and his company after he alleged that the shooting was a hoax. The case sued for defamation, violating the Unfair Trade Practices Act, and inflicting emotional distress.
The lawsuit primarily took issue with the fact that Alex and his company profited on the falsehoods he spread about the shooting.
Last month, the conspiracy theorist was ordered to pay $965 million.
“The record clearly supports the plaintiffs’ argument that the defendants’ conduct was intentional and malicious, and certain to cause harm by virtue of their infrastructure, ability to spread content, and massive audience including the 'infowarriors,'” the Judge Barabara Bellis said in her 45-page ruling.
She continued, "This depravity, and cruel, persistent course of conduct by the defendants established the highest degree of reprehensibility and blameworthiness.”
The Sandy Hook shooting occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012 when a gunman opened fire. 20 children and 6 staff were killed as a result.
“Their lives were shattered by December 14, 2012, but Alex Jones has made it so they can’t escape,” a lawyer for the victims’ families said during closing arguments in original trial. “Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them."
Alex reacted to the Thursday judgement on his show Infowarriors, calling it “ridiculous.” He didn’t clarify if he’ll be paying the ruling directly or where they money will come from.
"Well, of course, I’m laughing at it," he said. "It’d be like if you sent me a bill for a billion dollars in the mail. Oh man, we got you."
Alex is reportedly worth between $150 million to $270 million, Forbes reported, though he’s claimed on his show to be worth approximately $2 million.
Though Alex and his company have been ordered to pay over $1 billion in judgements, they’re set to stand trial later this year to reach a settlement for the family of a 6-year-old shooting victim.
Sources: NBC News, PBS, Forbes,
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