Infowars, owned by Alex Jones, is ordered for sale to compensate Sandy Hook families, according to the ruling of a judge.
In a dramatic turn of events, Infowars, the controversial right-wing media outlet, is under court-ordered receivership. This move comes following a Texas judge's decision on August 13, 2025, to appoint a receiver to take control of Infowars and sell its assets to help satisfy the legal judgments against its founder, Alex Jones [1][2].
The judgments stem from two separate defamation trials in 2022, where Jones was ordered to pay over $1 billion to families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The families accused Jones of falsely claiming the tragedy was a hoax, causing severe emotional distress and harassment [1].
Jones, known for his outspoken nature, has publicly called the court order improper and vowed to continue broadcasting, even mentioning he has an alternative studio ready if locked out. He expects Infowars to be sold but hopes the new owner will keep the platform on the air [1].
The receiver will sell Infowars' assets, including studio equipment and the Infowars brand name, to pay the families of Sandy Hook victims. This development puts Jones at risk of losing control of Infowars, including possibly being shut out of his studio soon [1].
The defamation trials, run by Texas attorney Mark Bankston, who represented parents Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin in Jones' first Sandy Hook trial, were allegedly a long and arduous fight for accountability [2]. Bankston expressed pride in the families' persistence, stating that the selling off of Infowars will give them some closure.
Attempts to sell Infowars' parent company's assets have been ongoing since 2024, including bids by The Onion, the satirical news organisation, and some families of Sandy Hook victims. However, prior sale attempts were halted or challenged in court before the recent receiver appointment [2].
Meanwhile, Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion's parent company, suggested on Bluesky that the company is still interested in purchasing Infowars. The future of Infowars remains uncertain, with Jones remaining defiant and vowing to create a bigger studio and broadcast "20 hours a day."
However, Jones' desk may not be his for much longer. Records obtained by HuffPost in 2022 revealed that Jones' Infowars store had spikes in sales on days when he brought up Sandy Hook. Jones also promoted supplements and silver coins of President Donald Trump during his show [1].
Despite the legal setbacks, Jones has maintained that the defamation trials were "rigged." This claim, however, does little to change the reality of the court-ordered receivership and the potential loss of control over Infowars.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, August 13). Judge orders Infowars to be sold to pay $1 billion to Sandy Hook families. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/13/judge-orders-infowars-to-be-sold-to-pay-1-billion-to-sandy-hook-families
[2] NPR. (2025, August 14). Infowars to be sold to pay $1 billion to Sandy Hook families. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64952779
- The receivership of Infowars, the controversial right-wing media outlet, could alter the landscape of social media, potentially impacting the reach of Alex Jones' content, known for his coverage of politics, pop-culture, and crime-and-justice.
- With Infowars' assets, including the Infowars brand name and studio equipment, being sold to help satisfy the legal judgments against Alex Jones, the future of celebrity-centered news and entertainment on the platform remains uncertain.
- As Infowars faces legal setbacks and the potential sale of its assets, general-news enthusiasts may be left questioning the implications for accountability in the news industry, especially after the defamation trials surrounding the Sandy Hook tragedy.
