Judge Halts Sale of Infowars to The Onion Amid Auction Controversy

In a surprising turn of events, a federal bankruptcy judge has temporarily halted the sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to the satirical news outlet The Onion. This decision follows concerns raised about the transparency and fairness of the bankruptcy auction process.

The Onion had emerged as the winning bidder in the auction, with plans to transform Infowars into a parody site. Their bid was notably supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who had previously won substantial defamation judgments against Jones for his false claims about the tragedy. These families agreed to waive a portion of their damages to bolster The Onion's bid, aiming to prevent Jones from regaining control of the platform.

However, the auction's integrity was called into question by First United American Companies, another bidder, which alleged that the auction's format was unfairly altered at the last minute. In response, Judge Christopher Lopez ordered an evidentiary hearing to examine these claims, effectively pausing the sale until further notice.

Alex Jones has publicly criticized the auction process, labeling it as "fake" and "rigged." He has vowed to contest the sale, asserting that his platform has been unjustly "hijacked."

The Onion, known for its satirical take on current events, had intended to relaunch Infowars in January 2025 as a parody site, aiming to counteract misinformation with humor. This initiative was to be supported by a multi-year advertising partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending gun violence.

The judge's decision to halt the sale introduces uncertainty into the future of Infowars and raises questions about the resolution of the defamation judgments against Jones. The upcoming evidentiary hearing will be crucial in determining whether The Onion's acquisition will proceed or if alternative outcomes will emerge.