Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist in the United States, launched a “vile campaign of defamation” when he falsely claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax, just hours after 26 people were shot and killed there.
Advertisement
Alex Jones even claimed that the six and seven-year-olds being remembered did not exist.
He claimed on his radio show and website Infowars that the massacre was a “false flag” operation staged by the government to impose stricter gun control laws and take away Second Amendment rights.
Advertisement
More than a decade later, the far-right conspiracy theorist’s incendiary remarks continue to haunt him as families of the shooting victims, 20 of whom were children, hold him accountable in court.
Jones’ defamation trial finally began in a Texas courtroom on July 26, 2022, with jurors hearing opening statements and the first testimony in the case.
On Monday, July 25 2022, the 12-person jury and four alternates were chosen from a jury pool of over 100.
Though the lawsuits do not specify a monetary amount, attorneys for the families have suggested that they may seek $100 million or more in compensatory and punitive damages.
Leave a Reply