A Texas-based company owned by far-right commentator Alex Jones filed for bankruptcy protection Friday as a defamation trial against him continues regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
According to NPR, Jones’ Free Speech LLC, the parent company of Infowars, cited millions of dollars owed in liabilities. The filing is not expected to disrupt the trial to award damages for defamation taking place in Austin, Texas which is set to resume Monday morning.
The company wants “to put this part of the odyssey behind us so that we have some numbers” set for damages, said Jones’ attorney Andino Reynal.
The trial will determine how much Jones will pay the family of a 6-year-old boy who was one of 20 children killed in the deadliest school U.S. shooting ever. Six educators were also killed in the attacks which were carried out by Adam Lanza.
“Just two days before jury selection is due to begin in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has once again fled like a coward to bankruptcy court in a transparent attempt to delay facing the families that he has spent years hurting,” said attorney Christopher Mattei.
Friday’s filing marks the third time that a Jones-owned company filed for bankruptcy. In April, Infowars also filed for bankruptcy protection.
Jones has been accused of stating that the shooting at Sandy Hook was a lie brought by crisis actors and organized by adversaries of the Second Amendment.
