search
Sections List
American Journal News

Sandy Hook families are sick of Alex Jones' smears — and they're suing

Conspiracy theorist and smear merchant Alex Jones is now being sued by the families of Sandy Hook victims after his lies about them prompted death threats.

By Oliver Willis - April 17, 2018
Share
Alex Jones

For years, conspiracy theorist and Trump promoter Alex Jones has claimed the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary was a hoax. Now some of the parents whose children were murdered are suing him.

Neil Heslin’s 6-year-old son was killed in the shooting, as was the son of Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa. They are now each suing Jones and demanding $1 million in damages. One of Jones’ so-called reporters, Owen Shroyer, is also named in the suits.

The families say that Jones’ repeated rantings about the murders have led to death threats against them.

Jones often invokes his relationship with Trump, who appeared on his program in December 2015 and praised his “amazing” reputation. Trump, meanwhile, repeats and spreads some of Jones’ absurd and debunked conspiracies.

Before Trump went on his program, Jones had cemented himself as a well-known conspiracy theorist. He has described himself as a “founding father” of the “9-11 truth” movement, which claims that the terrorist attacks were a product of the American government.

With regards to Sandy Hook, Jones said the entire shooting was “staged” and an “inside job.” He alleged that the mass killing involved “actors” who were “pre-planning” a hoax around the shooting. He said “the whole thing is a giant hoax.”

He claimed that before the shooting, “the school was actually closed the year before” and that the horrifying footage broadcast around the world was a choreographed “photo op.” He accused a mysterious “they” of using “blue screen, green screen” to supposedly pull off the fake shooting.

For the true believers who follow Jones, the accusations have been taken as gospel. Even though they are obviously absurd, he helped push disturbed people to hound and harass the families as they grieved the murder of their children.

One woman was even convicted of making death threats against the father of one Sandy Hook victim.

None of this ever deterred Trump from appearing on his show or from being affiliated with him. Trump is also a conspiracy theorist, and both he and Jones have promoted the idea that President Barack Obama was foreign born, and that climate change is a hoax. Both men have alleged that a shadowy “deep state” is working to undermine Trump’s presidency.

Jones has bragged that he has been regularly in contact with Trump since he assumed the presidency.

In a 2016 speech, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton warned about the relationship between Trump and Jones.

“Trump didn’t challenge those lies,” she said. “He went on Jones’ show and said: ‘Your reputation is amazing. I will not let you down.'”

After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Jones theorized that was also a false flag “to make the leftists all look like victims and bring in gun control and a war on America’s recovery.”

In recent days, Jones has publicly criticized Trump, characterizing his decision to bomb Syria as a betrayal.

Notably, Trump has never condemned Jones for his harmful conspiracies about Sandy Hook or 9/11.

Jones has done more to push Trump away than vice versa.

In addition to the new lawsuits, Jones faces other suits over the lies and fabrications he has put on air. Trump has never rescinded his proclamation that Jones’ reputation is “amazing.”


Read More
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - April 30, 2024
Biden on abortion rights: President expects to give speech Tuesday on new Florida 6-week ban

Biden on abortion rights: President expects to give speech Tuesday on new Florida 6-week ban

By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix - April 22, 2024
Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.2 trillion budget plan

Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.2 trillion budget plan

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - March 11, 2024
Biden rallies Democrats in Las Vegas: ‘Imagine the nightmare’ if Trump reelected

Biden rallies Democrats in Las Vegas: ‘Imagine the nightmare’ if Trump reelected

By April Corbin Girnus, Nevada Current - February 05, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
White House calls for focus on tutoring, summer school, absenteeism as pandemic aid winds down

White House calls for focus on tutoring, summer school, absenteeism as pandemic aid winds down

By Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado - January 22, 2024
AJ News
Latest
Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

By Jesse Valentine - May 07, 2024
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - April 30, 2024
Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024
Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal - April 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2024
GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

By Jesse Valentine - March 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

By Jesse Valentine - March 08, 2024
Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

By Jesse Valentine - March 07, 2024
Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

By Jesse Valentine - March 04, 2024
Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2024
Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

By Jesse Valentine - February 09, 2024
Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 31, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

By Jesse Valentine - January 17, 2024
A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

By Bonnie Fuller - January 10, 2024
Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

By Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters - January 08, 2024
How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

By Jesse Valentine - January 05, 2024
NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 04, 2024
Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

By Jesse Valentine - December 22, 2023
Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

By - December 15, 2023
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
Republican Kari Lake attacks Democratic opponent with deceitful, inaccurate ad

Republican Kari Lake attacks Democratic opponent with deceitful, inaccurate ad

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024
 Direct mailers distort California Democrat Will Rollins’ record 

 Direct mailers distort California Democrat Will Rollins’ record 

By Jesse Valentine - April 25, 2024