The Onion’s winning bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars platform is under review by a federal bankruptcy judge after Jones and his lawyers complained about the auction’s conduct.
Why was Infowars up for auction?
Alex Jones declared personal bankruptcy in late 2022 after being ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, who sued him for defamation for repeatedly calling the massacre a hoax aimed at increasing gun control.
How The Onion was named the winning bidder
The bankruptcy trustee overseeing the sale chose from sealed bids, receiving two offers. The Onion’s bid was lower than the $3.5 million offer from a company affiliated with Jones, but it contained an incentive by some of the Sandy Hook families to forgo a portion of the sale proceeds and give it to other Jones’ creditors. The trustee determined The Onion’s offer was better overall, but he could not yet put a dollar figure on the bid when the families’ offer was factored in.
Infowars reopens after shutting down
As the auction process began, Murray had Infowars’ website and studio shut down Thursday. However, on Friday, Infowars and its websites were back up and running.
What’s next in court?
The judge has expressed concerns about the auction process and transparency, and both sides are expected to present evidence at next week’s hearing. The judge may rule on whether the trustee properly ran the auction and selected The Onion as the winning bidder.
What are The Onion’s plans for Infowars?
The Onion hopes to reopen the Infowars website in January as a parody of Jones and other conspiracy theorists, with the goal of making it the "funniest and dumbest website that exists" in a few years.
Conclusion
The review of The Onion’s winning bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars platform has raised concerns about the auction process and transparency. The judge will have the final say on the matter, and the future of Infowars and its contents remains uncertain.
FAQs
Q: Why was Alex Jones’ Infowars platform put up for auction?
A: The platform was put up for auction as part of Alex Jones’ personal bankruptcy after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Q: Who was the only other bidder for Infowars?
A: The only other bidder for Infowars was a company affiliated with Jones.
Q: What are The Onion’s plans for Infowars?
A: The Onion hopes to reopen the Infowars website in January as a parody of Jones and other conspiracy theorists.
Q: Will the auction process affect the future of Infowars?
A: The outcome of the auction process will determine the future of Infowars, including its ownership and contents.
