Sandy Hook defamation trial: Alex Jones ordered to pay over $45 million in punitive damages to Jesse Lewis' parents

On Friday, Infowars host Alex Jones was ordered by a Texas jury to pay $45 million in compensatory reparations to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the parents of a 6-year-old who died in the 2012 Sandy Hook Massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. This is in addition to the $4 million he was ordered to pay the couple on Thursday.Ben Collins@oneunderscore__Verdict: Alex Jones owes $45.2 million more to Sandy Hook in punitive damages. That's on top of $4.1 million in compensatory.That's $49.3 million to two Sandy Hook families. Two more trials after this.Unanimous verdict (what's required for punitive damages).754799331Verdict: Alex Jones owes $45.2 million more to Sandy Hook in punitive damages. That's on top of $4.1 million in compensatory.That's $49.3 million to two Sandy Hook families. Two more trials after this.Unanimous verdict (what's required for punitive damages).Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis had demanded $150 million from Jones, as he referred to the Sandy Hook school shooting as a hoax several times on his influential right-wing podcast, Infowars. The parents' attorneys claimed that Jones profited from his allegations that Sandy Hook and several other massacres were staged conspiracies used by the US government to clamp down on gun laws and thus control the populace.The accusations against Alex JonesAccording to the Independent, leaked texts between Alex Jones and his attorneys revealed that the Infowars host had made immense profits selling merchandise through his shows. Heslin and Lewis' attorneys claim that this directly resulted from the attention he received from conspiracy theories he spread about the Sandy Hook massacre.Jeff Tiedrich@itsJeffTiedrichfirst they came for Alex Jones's wallet, and I didn't speak out— because I was laughing so hard that I couldn't catch my breath234902080first they came for Alex Jones's wallet, and I didn't speak out— because I was laughing so hard that I couldn't catch my breathIn a CNN interview, Heslin and Lewis' attorney, Wesley Todd Ball, said that the trial should stand as an example to those who profit from spreading fake news.He said:&quot;We ask that you send a very, very simple message, and that is, stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetization of misinformation and lies.&quot;Jones claimed that the punishment was too harsh, as it would force Infowars to file for bankruptcy. In response, Ball said this was the intention, stating that it would ensure he could no longer maintain a platform.Josiah Johnson@KingJosiah54Alex Jones after the jury ordered him to pay $50M to Sandy Hook families6874792Alex Jones after the jury ordered him to pay $50M to Sandy Hook families https://t.co/PGzRPCsIJeBall said:&quot;I ask that with your verdict, you not only take Alex Jones' platform that he talks about away. I ask that you make sure that he can't rebuild the platform. That's what matters.&quot;He added:&quot;That is punishment, that is deterrence.&quot;Andy Fox #Resistor #FBR #DemVoice1@factandrumor#LockHimUp or #LockHerUp Donald Trump, Eric Trump, Ted Cruz, Tommy Tuberville, Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Madison Cawthorn, Sean Hannity, Alex Jones, Mike Parson, Ted Nugent, Mark Meadows, etc. #DemVoice1 #Maddow839298#LockHimUp or #LockHerUp Donald Trump, Eric Trump, Ted Cruz, Tommy Tuberville, Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Madison Cawthorn, Sean Hannity, Alex Jones, Mike Parson, Ted Nugent, Mark Meadows, etc. #DemVoice1 #Maddow https://t.co/CVl1GzGauwHowever, in light of the leaked texts, which revealed how much money Jones had genuinely made from the podcast, Ball acknowledged that even $45 million in punitive damages was not enough to undermine the influence of the Infowars host.He said:&quot;He's probably already made it back in donations&quot;The attorney representing Jones, F. Andino Reynal, said in court that the punishment would not serve as a deterrent. In contrast to Ball, Reynal claimed that Jones played an important role in confronting the underhanded tactics allegedly used by the US government.𝐁𝐞𝐤𝐬@antifaoperativeA 49.2 million settlement is just the beginning of Alex Jones’s problems. Now he gets to go to Connecticut and do it all over again, in a state that hates him, where they already have his phone data.60051186A 49.2 million settlement is just the beginning of Alex Jones’s problems. Now he gets to go to Connecticut and do it all over again, in a state that hates him, where they already have his phone data.He said:&quot;Alex Jones will be on the air today, he'll be on the air tomorrow, he'll be on the air next week. He's going to keep doing his job holding the power structure accountable. That's our only statement.&quot;LizaMinnelliOutlives@LiZaOutlivesLiza Minnelli has outlived waiting for conspiracy nut Alex Jones to be punished for his disgusting lies. A jury said Jones must pay the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting $45.2 million in punitive damages as well as $4 million for compensatory damages.2384189Liza Minnelli has outlived waiting for conspiracy nut Alex Jones to be punished for his disgusting lies. A jury said Jones must pay the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting $45.2 million in punitive damages as well as $4 million for compensatory damages.On Wednesday, Jones said in court that the massacre was not a hoax. However, he has also stated in court that Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis are being used as tools by the government to undermine him.

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