A U.S. federal bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday that bankruptcy proceedings would not protect Infowars host Alex Jones from having to pay damages to the families of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting.
• Also read: How conspiracy theorist Alex Jones turned misinformation into a goose that lays golden eggs
• Also read: American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones declares himself bankrupt
Mr. Jones filed for bankruptcy last December after being ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion ($2 billion) in the Connecticut case filed by the families of eight shooting victims and a rescuer, reports CNN Business.
Those families had filed lawsuits against Mr. Jones over his false statements in connection with the December 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 26 people, including 20 children.
The conspiracy theorist and other InfoWars personalities called the massacre a hoax. In return, the victims’ families accused them of being crisis actors.
By filing for 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 into bankruptcy, Jones could have liquidated his broadcasting company and likely paid the families significantly less damages.
This scenario would also have allowed the conspirator to start a new business that would have been free from any grievances.
The judge presiding over the case on Thursday ruled against Mr. Jones, who must continue to pay $1.1 billion (CAD$1.5 billion) in damages to the injured families.