HARTFORD, Conn. — A Superior Court judge on Wednesday found conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones in contempt of court and imposed a fine of up to $50,000 a day for what she called his “willful” violation of her orders that he submit to questioning at a deposition by families of victims of the Sandy Hook School killings.
After a series of delays, Jones failed to comply last week with repeated orders by Barbara Bellis that he appear for a deposition on March 23 and 24 in Austin, Texas, where his internet broadcasting company is located. Relatives of the children murdered in the 2012 school shooting in Newtown have been trying for years to question him in connection with their suit filed in response to his broadcast assertions that the shootings were a hoax.
Jones claimed he was unable to sit for the deposition because of a health condition that is aggravated by stress. But Bellis said medical explanations by two of Jones’ physicians were unconvincing. She said there is evidence that, even though Jones’ legal team said he was at home under medical care, he actually was broadcasting during the times the depositions had been scheduled and told his audience his condition was caused by a sinus blockage.
