Sandy Hook Parents Confront Alex Jones, Say Hoax Claims Created ‘Living Hell’ 100% Real | USA KNEWS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist, says he now realises it was irresponsible of him to declare the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax and that he now believes it was "100% real."
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| Source: CBS News |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist, testified Wednesday that he now realises it was irresponsible of him to declare the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax, and that he now believes it was "100% real."
A day after the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the 2012 attack testified about their suffering, death threats, and harassment as a result of what Jones has trumpeted on his media platforms, the Infowars host told a Texas courtroom that he believes the attack took place.
"Especially now that I've met the parents." "It's completely true," Jones said during his trial to determine how much he and his media company, Free Speech Systems, owe for defaming Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis. Their son, Jesse Lewis, was among the 20 students and six educators killed in the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting, which was the deadliest in American history.
However, Heslin and Lewis stated on Tuesday that an apology would be insufficient and that Jones should be held accountable for repeatedly spreading false information about the attack. They're looking for at least $150 million.
After more testimony from Jones, who has portrayed the lawsuit as an attack on his First Amendment rights, closing arguments are expected to begin later Wednesday.
Jones is the sole witness in his own defence. His attorney asked if he now realises it was "absolutely irresponsible" to spread false claims that the massacre did not occur and that no one died.
Jones stated that he does, but added, "They (the media) will not let me take it back."
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| Source: WSILTV |
He also complained about being "typecast as someone who runs around talking about Sandy Hook, makes money off of Sandy Hook, and is obsessed with Sandy Hook."
Jones's testimony came a day after Heslin and Lewis testified in court in Austin, where Jones and his companies are based, that Jones and the false hoax claims he and Infowars promoted turned their lives into a "living hell" of death threats, online abuse, and harassment.
They led a charged day of testimony on Tuesday, with the judge chastising the bombastic Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath.
Lewis spoke directly to Jones, who was sitting about 10 feet away, in an engrossing exchange. Jones had been on his radio show earlier that day, telling his listeners that Heslin is "slow" and being manipulated by bad people.
"First and foremost, I am a mother, and I know you are a father." "My son existed," Lewis informed Jones. "I am not in a deep state... I'm sure you're aware of this... "Yet you're going to leave here and say it again on your show."
Lewis once asked Jones, "Do you think I'm an actor?"
"No, I don't think you're an actor," Jones said before the judge told him to keep quiet until he was called to testify.
Heslin and Lewis are two of several Sandy Hook families who have filed lawsuits alleging that Jones's Sandy Hook hoax claims led to years of abuse by him and his followers.
Both Heslin and Lewis stated that they are afraid for their lives and have been approached by strangers at home and on the street. Heslin claims that his home and car have been targeted. The jury heard a death threat sent to another Sandy Hook family via phone message.
"I can't even begin to describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure as a result of Alex Jones' recklessness and negligence," Heslin said.
Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that appeared to reveal intimate details about her personal life.
Scarlett Lewis explained, "It's fear for your life." "You have no idea what they were going to do."
Heslin said he didn't know if Jones started the Sandy Hook hoax conspiracy theory, but Jones "lit the match and started the fire" with an online platform and broadcast that reached millions around the world.
"What was said about me and Sandy Hook resonates all over the world," Heslin said. "As time passed, I realised how dangerous it was."
Jones missed Heslin's testimony on Tuesday morning because he was on his show, which Heslin called "cowardly," but he did appear in court for part of Scarlett Lewis' testimony. He was escorted by several private security guards.
"Today is very important to me, and it's been a long time coming... for me to confront Alex Jones about what he said and did to me." "To restore my son's honour and legacy," Heslin said when Jones wasn't present.
Heslin told the jury about holding his son with a bullet hole in his head, even describing the extent of his son's injuries. A key piece of evidence in the case is a 2017 Infowars broadcast in which Heslin claimed he did not have custody of his son.
The jury was shown a school photo of a happy Jesse taken two weeks before his death. The photo was not delivered to the parents until after the shoot. They described Jesse as a student who was known for telling his classmates to "run!" which likely saved lives.
Jones' apology would not suffice, according to the parents.
"Alex started this fight, and I'll finish it," Heslin said.
Jones later took the stand and was at first combative with the judge, who had asked him to answer a question from his own attorney. Jones testified that he had wanted to apologise to the plaintiffs for a long time.
Later, the judge escorted the jury out of the room and chastised Jones for telling the jury he had complied with pretrial evidence gathering when he hadn't and that he is bankrupt, the cause of which is unknown.
Jones' mention of his bankruptcy enraged the plaintiffs' attorneys, who fear it will taint the jury's decision on damages.
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told Jones, "This is not your show." "What you believe does not make something true." You have taken an oath."
Jones was chastised by the judge in her default judgement last September for failing to turn over documents requested by the Sandy Hook families. In a separate lawsuit brought by other Sandy Hook parents, a Connecticut court issued a similar default judgement against Jones for the same reasons.
The amount Jones will pay is at stake in the trial. The parents have requested that the jury award them $150 million in damages for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury will then decide whether Jones and his company will be required to pay punitive damages.
Jones has already attempted to financially protect Free Speech Systems. Last week, the company filed for federal bankruptcy protection. Sandy Hook families have sued Jones separately over his financial claims, claiming that the company is attempting to shield millions of dollars owned by Jones and his family through shell entities.
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