Fact Check: Alex Jones Accused of Hiding $5 Million from Sandy Hook Families
What We Know
Alex Jones, the founder of InfoWars and a prominent conspiracy theorist, has been accused of hiding over $5 million from families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. This allegation arises from ongoing bankruptcy proceedings where Jones has claimed he lacks the funds to pay the nearly $1.5 billion in damages awarded to the families for defamation and emotional distress related to his false claims about the Sandy Hook massacre being a hoax (NPR, Washington Post).
The U.S. bankruptcy trustee, Christopher Murray, has filed lawsuits alleging that Jones engaged in fraudulent transfers of assets to shield them from creditors. These transfers reportedly include $1.5 million to his wife, over $800,000 to his father, and two condominiums valued at approximately $1.5 million (NPR, ABC3340).
Analysis
The allegations against Jones are supported by legal filings from the bankruptcy trustee, who describes the asset transfers as "bearing the classic hallmarks… of actual fraudulent intent" (NPR). The trustee argues that these transactions were designed to protect Jones's wealth from the substantial liabilities he faces due to the judgments against him.
Jones's defense has been to assert that he is financially broke, claiming in a video that "the money doesn't exist" (NPR). However, the trustee's claims suggest a deliberate effort to mislead the court regarding his financial status. The credibility of the trustee's allegations is bolstered by the detailed nature of the claims, including specific amounts and types of assets allegedly transferred, as well as the timing of these transactions in relation to his bankruptcy filing (Washington Post).
While Jones's legal team has not publicly responded to these specific allegations, his ex-wife has labeled the lawsuits as "harassment" (Washington Post). This response does not address the substantive claims made by the trustee and may reflect a strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the proceedings rather than provide a factual rebuttal.
Conclusion
The claim that Alex Jones is accused of hiding $5 million from Sandy Hook families is True. The evidence presented in the lawsuits filed by the bankruptcy trustee outlines a series of questionable financial maneuvers that suggest an intent to shield assets from creditors. Given the detailed nature of the allegations and the context of Jones's ongoing legal troubles, it appears that these accusations are grounded in legitimate legal concerns.
