Alex Jones busted: How the Sandy Hook trial could lead to accountability for Donald Trump

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Alex Jones busted: How the Sandy Hook trial could lead to accountability for Donald Trump
Has a Trump acolyte finally hit a limit to shamelessness as a political strategy?

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer

(Salon) Until Wednesday, Infowars founder and host Alex Jones seemed unfazed about the possibility of consequences. For years, the right-wing fabulist has been in a court battle with the parents of the young children murdered in the Sandy Hook massacre. The surviving parents are suing Jones for false claims that the school shooting never happened. Most people facing a lawsuit from such sympathetic plaintiffs would respond by showing humility and remorse. Jones, however, has turned this situation into a clown show by refusing court orders to turn over evidence, not showing up for trial, and going on air regularly to tell even more defamatory lies about the families and the judge presiding over the case.

He has good reason to believe shamelessness will work out for him. Through the power of bullshit, Alex Jones has evaded consequences for his actions for decades. His strategy is simple: Lie to the audience by claiming to be the victim of a vast conspiracy. This opens a fountain of loyalty and, crucially, money.

It worked after Jones was kicked off various hosting services for repeatedly breaking rules about disinformation and defamation. The Infowars audience rallied to his side. Jones made millions after being de-platformed, often raking in as much as $800,000 in a day. This Donald Trump-like audacity seemed like it might work for Jones in this legal battle over his Sandy Hook lies, as well. He has barely put up a legal defense. Instead, taking his case to the airwaves, where his lies risk no perjury charges. Coupled with stonewalling and financial shenanigans that look an awful lot like hiding money, it's clear what the goal is: amass so much wealth and support that even a major judgment against him won't cause any significant damage.

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Jones, who has decades of experience as a gaslighter, kept chattering and accusing the lawyer of trying to have a "Perry Mason moment." Still, it's hard to deny that a flicker of concern crossed his face, a small sign of fear that this may, after all this time, be a problem that Jones can't escape through lying and bombast. Jones, New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson tweeted, was later seen "sweating so much his hair is soaked and dripping onto his *blue* collar."

To make the moment even more delicious, the newly freed cell phone records may now be finding their way into the investigation of the January 6 insurrection, which Jones played a heavy hand in hyping. ..............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2022/08/04/alex-jones-busted-how-the-sandy-hook-trial-could-lead-to-accountability-for-donald/