In a surprising twist, attorneys for X Corp., the Elon Musk-led company that now owns Twitter, have entered the legal fray surrounding Alex Jones and his bankrupt Infowars platform.
Their recent filing identifies X Corp. as an “interested party” in the proceedings, although their precise role remains unclear.
On the same day, The Onion, known for its satirical prowess, announced it had won the auction for Infowars. The brand will soon transform into a humor-focused platform featuring top internet comedy writers and creators. NBC News reported, “The Onion plans to shutter Jones’ InfoWars and rebuild the website featuring well-known internet humor writers and content creators, according to a person with knowledge of the sale.”
However, the sale isn’t without controversy. A federal bankruptcy judge in Texas has ordered an evidentiary hearing to probe the auction’s transparency. Critics, including Jones himself, allege foul play. In a video posted to X, Jones accused Connecticut Democrats and The Onion of colluding to claim the platform. “They said, ‘It was competitive,’” Jones complained. “They changed all the bidding rules and made it secret two days ago. I had a bad feeling about this.”
The auction’s legitimacy is under scrutiny partly because it was organized by families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, to whom Jones owes $1 billion in defamation damages after claiming the 2012 tragedy was a “hoax.” The sale included core Infowars assets like its website, trademarks, and video archive, but the winning bid and participants remain under wraps due to nondisclosure agreements.
Interestingly, NPR revealed that the highest bidder might not necessarily win in this case. Auction firms managing the process have discretion to select the “highest or otherwise best bid,” giving the sale an added layer of complexity. Reports suggest that Jones’s allies submitted a seven-figure bid to retain the brand, but it was ultimately rejected.
Jones hinted during a live broadcast on X that Musk might play a role in the unfolding drama. “I was told Elon is going to be very involved in this,” he said. Meanwhile, Mother Jones noted that lawyers for X were present at the hearing, with Jones cryptically adding, “The cavalry is here. Trump is pissed.” He later claimed the former president was frustrated on his behalf, calling himself one of Trump’s “biggest defenders.”
As of now, X Corp.’s motives remain a mystery. Their Nov. 14 filing doesn’t specify why they’ve joined the case but reserves their right to review all pertinent documents. Neither Musk nor X Corp. has commented further, leaving observers guessing about their next move.
