By James Nani
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones defended criticisms of “opulent” spending habits during his bankruptcy, arguing that his creditors have cherry-picked a recent high-spending month to “distort the public’s perception” of his actions.
Jones, who hosts the radio and video talk show Infowars, said his expenses “may be somewhat higher than the average American,” but argued that his job duties “in an unconventional industry” require “additional support and costs that the average working American would not incur.” He accused critics of his spending of trying to push him off the air.
His statements, filed Monday in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, come as families of victims slain in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting seek to collect nearly $1.4 billion in damages Jones was ordered to pay them. A committee of his tort creditors in late August told the bankruptcy court that Jones’ spending has accelerated in recent months—growing to more than $93,000 in expenses in July.
Jones has spent more than $740,000 on assets not protected by bankruptcy since his December Chapter 11 filing, the creditor group said.
His July spending included $7,900 on housekeeping, $15,184 in prenuptial payments to his wife, $6,302 in maintenance and taxes for his vacation lake house, and $6,338 on meals and entertainment, according to court papers.
Juries in Connecticut and Texas awarded the damages last year after finding Jones and his Infowars parent company financially liable for spreading lies that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. The bankruptcy court is considering whether he can discharge the debts.
Jones on Monday said his July expenses “were neither extraordinary nor exciting other than timing and seasonal fluctuations.” He argued that his creditors’ attorneys are using a court filing to communicate with a press that is “looking for sensational information and sound bites to support” in an attempt to de-platform him and his company.
Creditors last month said Jones is continuing “to enjoy his opulent” lifestyle, while keeping assets not protected by bankruptcy—a majority of which they argued should have been sold shortly after he sought Chapter 11 protection.
But Jones argued that he has a duty to maintain his post-bankruptcy obligations. As a “talk show host of celebrity status,” he must hire people to help him with household, business, and domestic work in order to carry out his job and maintain his income, he said.
Without spending changes, the families said they’ll ask the court to seek a preliminary injunction to stop further unnecessary expenses, ask for a trustee to take over Jones’ estate, or seek dismissal of his Chapter 11.
“This intent to take away the Debtor’s First Amendment rights, whether one likes the content of his speech or not, is an inappropriate and unconstitutional use of this Court and the Bankruptcy Code,” Jones said.
Jones is represented by Crowe & Dunlevy PC and Jordan & Ortiz PC.
The unsecured creditors’ committee is represented by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
The case is Alexander E. Jones, Bankr. S.D. Tex., No. 22-33553, response 9/18/23.
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