Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones took the stand in self-defense for the first time at his defamation trial in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, telling the parents of Jesse Lewis, one of the 20 children killed in the mass shooting in the Sandy Hook Elementary School last year. Newtown, Conn., who never meant to hurt them by falsely claiming that the massacre was a hoax, and insisting that he was only interested in the truth.
“I question every big event,” Jones said, explaining that he and his Infowars guests simply “discuss” controversial news topics, including mass shootings like Sandy Hook and terrorist attacks like 9/11, and that he he is simply an “expert”.
Jones began by addressing Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, Jesse’s parents, who testified earlier Tuesday.
During his testimony, Lewis addressed Jones directly.
“Jesse was real,” Lewis said. “I’m a real mom.”
“I think Scarlett Lewis is real,” Jones said shortly after taking office. “I think his son died.”
Alex Jones at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. (Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters)
He tried to apologize to the parents while on the witness stand, but Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told him he could only answer the questions they asked him.
Heslin and Lewis are suing Jones and his media company Free Speech Systems for $150 million for harassment they have received as a result of the false conspiracy theory spread by Jones and his guests on Infowars, a site far-right website that hosts talk shows and other content.
His lawyer said Monday that the parents have been isolated with a 24-hour security detail after an unspecified number of “encounters” while they were in Texas for the two-week trial.
Jones claimed that the attack that killed his son, 19 other children and six educators on Dec. 14, 2012, was staged, and that the parents of the slain children were so-called crisis actors employed by the ” deep state”.
Lewis said he thinks Jones knows she’s not actually a deep-state actor.
“I know you know that. That’s the problem, I know you know that,” he said, addressing Jones. “But you keep saying it. Why? Why? For money?”
The story continues
Scarlett Lewis, mother of Sandy Hook, 6-year-old shooting victim Jesse Lewis, at Alex Jones’ defamation trial Tuesday. (Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters)
Jones has claimed in court that he has a negative net worth of $20 million, although the plaintiffs’ lawyers vehemently dispute that claim. Last week, Free Speech Systems filed for US bankruptcy protection.
Jones has already been held liable for defamation by Gamble, who issued a rare default judgment against him in 2021.
The defamation suit in Texas, where Infowars is based, is one of several filed by families of victims who say they were harassed by Jones’ supporters as a result of his false claims.
Jones coughed repeatedly throughout his testimony. He said he was suffering from a torn larynx which he developed while presenting his daily show Infowars. Jones has continued to host the show throughout the trial.
On Tuesday, while Heslin was in court testifying about her son’s murder, Jones was on air tossing out a new baseless claim.
“I think Heslin acts like someone on the spectrum,” Jones said. “It’s being manipulated by very bad people.”
Neil Heslin, father of Jesse Lewis, pauses during his testimony Tuesday. (Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters)
Jones was called as the first and only witness in his defense. He will return to the stand on Wednesday to complete his testimony.
After the jury was released for the day, Gamble scolded Jones for “abusing my tolerance and making a margin for the jury.”
“This is not your show,” Gamble said. “You’re under oath. That means things have to be really true when you say them.”
“I believed they were true,” Jones said.
“You think it’s all true,” Gamble replied.
After court adjourned, Jones approached the parents to apologize and shake their hands. Heslin asked if Jones would also apologize for suggesting he was autistic, and then his lawyers separated them.
“Hey, I think I’m autistic too, buddy,” Jones said as they left the room.