(NewsNation) — A judge approved a request for conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones to liquidate his personal assets as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
The court is also expected to issue a decision regarding the liquidation of the media company that he has built for decades. He will not be in control of the sale of any assets, which will be handled the court as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
His media company, a supplement company and other assets, including his gun collection, could all be subject to liquidation pending further decisions from the judge. He will be allowed to keep his $2 million home.
The money still may not make much of a dent in the $1.5 billion he owes the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting.
In 2012, a gunman opened fire at the Connecticut elementary school, killing 20 children and six teachers and staff. Jones went on the air with lies, repeatedly calling the shooting false and referring to the families as “crisis actors,” a term used by conspiracy theorists who deny shootings.
Infowars followers, spurred by Jones’ rants, harassed the families. Many experienced death threats and there were also threats to dig up their children’s graves by those who believe the shooting was a hoax.
Two juries found Jones guilty of defamation and he did admit in court that the shooting was real, while also claiming his statements fell under free speech.
Jones declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas, a move some of the families opposed as they considered it an attempt to avoid paying the judgment. Jones resisted cooperating with the court but last week agreed to convert to a Chapter 7 liquidation which includes the liquidation of his assets.
Jones was worth $135 million to $270 million when the judgment was made but continued to spend dispute being in bankruptcy, his assets falling to around $10 million. The shift to chapter seven will also include the appointment of a trustee who will investigate Jones for any hidden assets through shell companies or other means.
Despite the judgment and bankruptcy proceedings, Jones has continued to host Infowars and has vowed to continue to have a show. He has already sold a Texas ranch he owned.
The Sandy Hook families have said they support the request to liquidate Jones’ assets to help pay the judgment.
“Alex Jones has hurt so many people that Connecticut families have fought for years to hold him responsible, no matter the cost, and a great personal peril. Their steadfast focus on meaningful accountability and not just money, is what has now brought him to the brink of justice in the way that matters most,” an attorney for the families wrote.
Survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting recently graduated high school, honoring their classmates who were killed in the first grade classrooms.