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A Texas bankruptcy court has blocked The Onion's attempt to purchase Alex Jones' Infowars. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled on Tuesday (December 10) that the satirical newspaper's bid was insufficient, halting the acquisition process. The decision followed nearly a month of legal proceedings over the potential sale.
Judge Lopez stated, "I don't think it's enough money," and decided not to approve the sale, leaving the next steps to trustee Christopher Murray. The Onion had partnered with the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, who had previously won a $1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones, to make a bid for Infowars. Their plan was to transform Infowars from a platform for conspiracy theories into a source of satirical humor.
The Onion's bid was valued at $7 million, including $1.75 million in cash and a non-cash component where some creditors, including Sandy Hook families, agreed to forgo proceeds from the sale. However, a rival bid from First United American Companies, associated with Jones, offered $3.5 million in cash, claiming their offer was superior.
Despite the setback, The Onion remains committed to pursuing the acquisition. In a statement on X, CEO Ben Collins expressed disappointment but vowed to continue seeking a resolution. Meanwhile, Jones celebrated the ruling, calling the sale process "auction fraud."
The court's decision leaves the future of Infowars uncertain, with the possibility of a new auction or further legal challenges. The Sandy Hook families, represented by attorney Chris Mattei, remain determined to hold Jones accountable for the harm caused by his false claims.