News

Alex Jones Ordered To Pay $4.1 Million In Sandy Hook Defamation Trial

   DailyWire.com
US far-right radio show Alex Jones speaks to supporters of US President Donald Trump as they demonstrate in Washington, DC, on December 12, 2020, to protest the 2020 election. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

Infowars host Alex Jones must pay $4.1 million to the parents of a child killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a jury ruled Thursday.

Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin lost their 6-year-old son, Jesse, in the 2012 massacre after a gunman attacked his school, killing 20 students and six educators. In the aftermath of the attack, Jones spread false claims that the attack was a hoax.

Lewis and Heslin brought legal action against Jones over his conspiracy theorist claims, accusing Jones of defamation. Jones’ attorney, Andino Reynal, argued that Jones had made a “terrible mistake” and asked the jury to fine his client $1.

“He made a terrible mistake,” Reynal told jurors, according to NBC News. “That mistake was weaponized by the same political forces that had descended upon Sandy Hook when it happened.”

Both parents testified during the trial. Heslin said that “the negligence and recklessness of Alex Jones” had made the grieving parent’s life a “living hell.”

“Having a 6-year-old son shot in front of his classroom is unbearable and you don’t think you’re going to survive and then to have someone on top of that perpetuate a lie that it was a hoax, that it was a false flag,” Lewis testified. “I don’t think you understand the fear you perpetuate, not just to the victim’s family but to our family, our friends and any survivor from that school.”

At one point during the trial, Jones’s legal team accidentally sent opposing attorneys a copy of Jones’ text messages. The messages purportedly revealed that Jones had made false statements about messages he sent referencing the Sandy Hook shooting. According to the parents’ attorney, Jones said earlier under oath he could not locate any messages, but his messages revealed that he sent many of them.

“Mr. Jones, did you know that 12 days ago, your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cellphone with every text message you’ve sent for the past two years?” Mark Bankston, an attorney for Lewis and Heslin, asked Jones. “You know what perjury is, right?”

Jones responded that he did and maintained that he told the truth.

Create a free account to join the conversation!

Already have an account?

Log in

Got a tip worth investigating?

Your information could be the missing piece to an important story. Submit your tip today and make a difference.

Submit Tip
Download Daily Wire Plus

Don't miss anything

Download our App

Stay up-to-date on the latest
news, podcasts, and more.

Download on the app storeGet it on Google Play
The Daily Wire   >  Read   >  Alex Jones Ordered To Pay $4.1 Million In Sandy Hook Defamation Trial