Judge rejects Infowars sale to Onion amid legal battle
What happens when a satirical publication vies to acquire a site founded by a conspiracy theorist? A federal judge in Houston has rejected the sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion, prolonging a contentious legal battle over the controversial website's ownership.
Infowars, created by Jones, became entangled in bankruptcy proceedings following a $1.4 billion defamation judgment won by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims in 2022. The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, made a $7 million bid to acquire the site, backed by $1.75 million in cash and additional contributions from the Sandy Hook families. These families had pledged a portion of their potential compensation to support the bid. Jones' affiliate, First United American Cos., countered with a $3.5 million cash bid. Despite offering more upfront cash, their overall bid value was deemed inferior by Jeff Tanenbaum, an expert advising the court-appointed trustee overseeing the sale.
The sale process faced criticism from Jones and his legal team. They alleged improper conduct, including collusion between Global Tetrahedron and the Sandy Hook families. Additionally, Jones argued the use of sealed bidding, rather than an open auction, undermined fairness and transparency. Lawyers for the trustee and Global Tetrahedron defended the process, asserting it adhered to legal protocols. Tensions escalated during the hearings, with Jones' representatives questioning the financial resources of the Sandy Hook families. Meanwhile, Jones hosted a dramatic live broadcast on social media, inaccurately claiming Infowars was being sold to billionaire Michael Bloomberg.
Judge Christopher Lopez ultimately ruled against the sale, citing concerns about the process and leaving The Onion's acquisition plans in limbo. The decision prolongs uncertainty over Infowars' future ownership. The ruling underscores the complexities of bankruptcy sales, particularly in high-profile and emotionally charged cases. As legal battles continue, the fate of Infowars remains unresolved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
20-03-2025
- Express Tribune
UK teen who planned massacre jailed for life
A UK teenager who killed three family members and planned to outdo notorious US massacres to become "the world's most famous school shooter of the 21st century" was on Wednesday jailed for a minimum of 49 years. Nicholas Prosper, 18 at the time of the killings, used a shotgun to kill his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, sister Giselle, 13, and brother Kyle, 16, who also received more than 100 knife wounds, at their home in Luton, north of London, in September 2024. "Your ambition was notoriety. You wanted to be known posthumously as the world's most famous school shooter of the 21st century," judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said on Wednesday as she sentenced the now 19-year-old. Prosper told police upon his arrest of his "Friday the 13th" plan to also kill dozens of four- and five-year-old pupils and two teachers at a nearby primary school that he had previously attended, then himself. He said his aim was to conduct an attack more deadly than the US Sandy Hook and Virginia Tech massacres.
Express Tribune
15-03-2025
- Express Tribune
US influencer Sam Jones apologizes after baby wombat snatching incident in Australia, faces backlash
A US influencer has sparked controversy and outrage in Australia after she was seen grabbing a baby wombat from its mother on a road. Sam Jones, a hunting influencer, left the country on Friday, after home affairs minister Tony Burke confirmed that immigration authorities were investigating whether she had breached the conditions of her visa. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, led to widespread condemnation. On Saturday, Jones took to Instagram to post a 900-word apology, claiming she was acting out of concern for the wombat's safety. "I was extremely concerned when I found the wombats on the road, and stopped to ensure they were not hit by a car," she wrote. "When I walked up to the baby and it did not move, I thought it may have been sick or injured, so I decided to pick up the wombat to check." Jones emphasized that her intentions were not malicious, stating, 'I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgment I made in these moments was never from a place of harm or stealing a joey." She assured followers that after checking on the baby wombat, she returned it to its mother and made sure they both safely left the road. In the lengthy post, Jones also addressed the backlash, explaining that the incident was never staged for social media content. 'I want to make it absolutely clear that this was never about social media or getting likes. This was not staged, nor was it done for entertainment. In my excitement and concern, I acted too quickly and then failed to provide necessary context to viewers online." Despite the apology, Jones's actions remain the subject of intense criticism. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act, calling it 'an outrage' and jokingly suggested Jones try taking a baby crocodile from its mother. Additionally, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) condemned the act, pointing out the distress caused to both the joey and the mother wombat. 'The footage shows a blatant disregard for native wildlife, and the distress caused to the joey and the mother was clear,' an RSPCA spokesperson said. Jones, who was targeted with thousands of death threats following the incident, also questioned the outrage in a country where 'slaughter of wombats' is allowed. She pointed out that, under Australian law, harming a wombat is only permitted if a permit is obtained, though hunting and culling practices remain controversial. Jones has since expressed regret for how she handled the situation and acknowledged that her actions were not appropriate. As authorities continue to investigate whether Jones violated the terms of her visa, the story continues to fuel debate on social media and beyond.
Express Tribune
14-03-2025
- Express Tribune
US influencer Sam Jones leaves Australia after baby wombat snatching video sparks outrage
Sam Jones, an American influencer, has left Australia after a video surfaced showing her taking a distressed baby wombat from the side of the road and posting the footage on social media. The controversial video quickly sparked outrage across the country. Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, had previously stated that his department was reviewing whether it could revoke Jones's visa, but sources confirmed that she left the country voluntarily. In a brief statement on Friday, Burke expressed relief, saying, "There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat," celebrating Jones's departure. The video, which showed Jones laughing as she snatched the baby wombat from its frantic mother, caused widespread condemnation. In the clip, the baby wombat is seen hissing in distress before Jones eventually returns it to the bush. The incident prompted anger from both the public and Australian leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who called it an "outrage." Foreign Minister Penny Wong also condemned the act as "dreadful." Opposition leader Peter Dutton described the act as "cruel" and expressed relief that Jones had left the country. An online petition demanding her deportation garnered over 30,000 signatures. However, as Jones had not been charged with any offense and was not deemed a threat, there were no legal grounds to cancel her visa. Jones, who also goes by the name Samantha Strable, has nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram, where she describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter." She has since made her account private and deleted the controversial post. In a now-deleted comment, Jones defended her actions, claiming that the baby wombat was "carefully held for one minute" and was unharmed upon being returned to its mother. "They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed," she wrote. "I don't ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so." Despite her defense, wildlife experts have criticized the act as a "blatant disregard" for native species. The Wombat Protection Society expressed shock over what they described as the "mishandling of a wombat joey in an apparent snatch for 'social media likes'." Suzanne Milthorpe, Head of Campaigns at World Animal Protection Australia, called the video "unacceptable," highlighting the trauma the baby wombat must have felt. Wombats, which are native to Australia, are a legally protected species. Experts say that separating a baby wombat from its mother can be both distressing and harmful, given the strong bond between them.
