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Infowars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been known as “a coward” by a lawyer representing the relations of these killed throughout the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing.
Jones sued his media firm Free Speech Methods on Friday, solely days earlier than jury choice was as a result of start in a Connecticut defamation trial over him falsely claiming that the mass capturing was “pretend.” The Sandy Hook capturing—which passed off December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut—was the nation’s worst-ever elementary college capturing, ensuing within the deaths of 20 youngsters and eight adults, together with the shooter and his mom.
Hours after suing his personal firm, a Chapter 11 chapter declare for Free Speech Methods was filed in Southern Texas Chapter Court docket, in keeping with CT Insider. Whereas the submitting shouldn’t be anticipated to have an effect on a separate defamation trial that’s at the moment ongoing in Texas, it may probably delay the Connecticut trial. Chris Mattei, the lead legal professional for the Sandy Hook households in Connecticut, accused Jones of being a coward following the chapter submitting.
“Simply two days earlier than jury choice is because of start in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has as soon as once more fled like a coward to chapter courtroom in a clear try to delay dealing with the households he has spent years hurting,” Mattei instructed CT Insider. “These households have an infinite nicely of endurance and stay decided to carry Mr. Jones accountable in a Connecticut courtroom.”
Jones beforehand delayed his Texas trial by submitting chapter claims for 3 of his shell firms earlier this yr. The Infowars host and Free Speech Methods have already misplaced default judgements in each Texas and Connecticut, with juries being seated to find out the extent of the monetary penalties which may be owed to the households.
Though Jones has since reversed his place on the Sandy Hook capturing by admitting that it passed off and was not “staged” by “disaster actors” as he beforehand claimed, he has continued to make questionable claims about mass shootings—resembling just lately calling the timing of the Robb Elementary College capturing in Uvalde, Texas, “very opportunistic.”
Jones filed go well with towards Free Speech Methods on Friday whereas arguing that his firm had “promised and assured to indemnify and maintain innocent Alex Emric Jones from any damages or different prices which can be assessed or entered towards him on this litigation.”
Attorneys for the Sandy Hook households in Connecticut described Jones successfully suing himself as one other delay tactic in a movement to strike the declare.
“Alex Jones will do something to delay trial on this case, together with successfully suing himself,” the attorneys wrote. “The cross declare alleges the fiction that this wholly managed subsidiary promised to carry Jones innocent for damages on this case, inviting this continuing to enter Mr. Jones’ conspiracist world the place discovered information and sworn testimony imply nothing in any respect.”
“To make sure that Jones doesn’t profit from this newest ploy, the cross declare ought to be stricken instantly as premature and made in dangerous religion,” they continued.
The cross declare was filed by Jones’ New Haven-based legal professional John Williams. A unique legal professional for Jones, F. Andino Reynal, raised eyebrows earlier this week after elevating his center finger at an legal professional representing the Sandy Hook households throughout the Texas trial.
Newsweek has reached out to Williams for remark.