Sandy Hook defamation trial: Judge rebukes Alex Jones after explosive argument with victims' attorney

On Thursday, Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones engaged in a heated courtroom dispute with an attorney representing victims of Sandy Hook who, in Connecticut, have sued him, prompting a reprimand from the judge and a threat that they may be held in contempt if he violated court rules again.

An angry Judge Barbara Bellis warned during the hearing to decide how much Alex Jones must compensate the relatives of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims for his lying about the incident.

An attorney for the families, Christopher Mattei, questioned Jones about his erroneous allegation that the 2012 massacre that killed 26 people was a "hoax," leading Jones to become enraged and attack him.


Alex Jones accused Mattei of being dishonest and accused him of being a pettifogger before launching into a rant against liberals in court. Bellis, who earlier warned Jones that some of his outbursts were in breach of court regulations, reminded Jones that he was in court and must follow her directions.



Bellis reminded Jones that this was not his program and that he had to accept the process, whether he liked it. Bellis also directed lawyers for both sides to conduct themselves properly.

Bellis cautioned that anyone who breaks court rules in the future would face a contempt hearing, which she emphasized she wanted to avoid.

The surprising moment completed a day of testimony by Jones, who had previously not appeared in the defamation trial of Connecticut. The trial is taking place a month after a Texas jury decided that Jones and his firm, Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, should be awarding almost $50 million to two parents. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, Jones falsely claimed to his audience that the incident was created. He has subsequently admitted to the shooting, but only after the lawsuits were filed. In a formal deposition, he claimed that a sort of insanity prompted his erroneous statements.

FAQ

Who is Alex Jones?
Alexander Emerick Jones is a notable conspiracy theorist and host of a far-right and alt-right radio show in the United States.

Where is Sandy Hook?
Sandy Hook is a hamlet in the town of Newtown, Connecticut. It was founded in 1711.