[bassrattle]

So as he is quoted at the top "Something I talked about like 15 times, six, seven, eight years ago." This appears to be true when he said it, judging from the rest of the site's content. He offered consistent reasons for his (wrong) opinion. And when he said, "I mean, how do I get a fair trial with stuff like this?", pretty valid given the article he's referencing. Sorry, but I don't see defamation here. And the un-doctored video of the dad is ODD enough to say so on the radio. Don't take this as defending him (because I do believe he's wrong) but I find everything he said to be allowable in an open, free society. And sorry, I don't find the parents to be harmed to the tune of a $B. That all said, however, as a Tim Heidecker fan, I'm pretty happy at the outcome. Here I'll say what neither side will say: Alex is the frontman for the "cabal" (he admits his dad was in DARPA and Intelligence). His job is to say their deeds out loud (which is part of their belief system) in such a way that few people trust. I may be wrong, so sue me for a billion dollars why don't you.

[rootusrootus]

> I find everything he said to be allowable in an open, free society.

Indeed, the government is not prosecuting him or trying to suppress his first amendment rights. But that doesn't mean he can say anything he wants about anyone he wants and not have any civil liability, so it seems like the system is working.

The billion dollar verdict is his own fault. He got sued by a bunch of people, and it is pretty normal to shoot for a high amount and settle for less. If he had not noped out of the entire process he would have been liable for a whole lot less (or even nothing, depending on the jury). No sympathy from me.

[MeetingsBrowser]

He knowingly made up lies about the Sandy Hook parents for personal gain, and continued to do so on a regular basis for over a decade.

The case didn’t even make it to trial because he refused to turn over documents, likely because they would prove guilt.

Free speech protects your right to say your opinion, but it does not protect you from willingly causing harm to others for personal gain.

[tootie]

Jones is currently crashing out over the deal with The Onion and has just today repeated his claim that the shooting was staged: https://bsky.app/profile/bencollins.bsky.social/post/3mk6rah...

[troutwine]

> Alex is the frontman for the "cabal" (he admits his dad was in DARPA and Intelligence).

Alex Jones is a severely damaged man and a known liar. His story about his father has changed radically over the years and within days of his telling, each time mythologizing his Dad by way of making Jones himself special, or from special people. Was Jones’ grandmother psychic? Is he himself? Does God give him downloads of information over chicken sandwiches and in the middle of the night with clock time ‘proofs’? Why did Jones receive the download to go rescue Gene Hackman and then just not do so, if the battle against the Actual Devil is so important?

> So as he is quoted at the top "Something I talked about like 15 times, six, seven, eight years ago." This appears to be true when he said it, judging from the rest of the site's content.

I haven’t reviewed the site but Jones was the head of a whole media operation that knowingly defamed these people in a bitter time, and to sell dick pills. The depositions for these things are public and you can watch them yourself. Jones himself admits in these depositions his role behind the scenes, sending Halbig on his mad journey and what not.

The $1B judgement is startling but it’s based entirely on Jones’ own statement of impact in the depositions. If you’re being sued for the profit you made from lies, maybe don’t claim the majority of humanity tunes into your show and website every day.

[gosub100]

If he doesn't like the reality of the tort system he can just invent a new reality and say everything he dislikes is fake.

[tootie]

He wasn't just expressing an opinion though. He was willfully lying. The burden for proving defamation is pretty high to avoid infringing on free speech and the burden was easily met. They proved that he not only lied, he knowingly lied and continued to knowingly lie after seeing proof his lies were materially hurting people.

Also he is not a frontman for shit. He's a narcissistic rage baiter who has never exposed any true story. Your nonsensical belief however is nowhere near the standard for defamation.

[UltraSane]

Alex Jones is an utterly depraved lunatic who will tell any lie as long as it makes him money and he doesn't care at all about the damage his lies cause. This directly led to him getting sued and losing because his lies causes enormous harm to the parents of the Sandy Hook victims.