Full Breakdown
Texas Court Halts Proposed The Onion Takeover of Infowars
5/1/2026, 5:42:25 PM
Court Halts Proposed The Onion Takeover of Infowars
An emergency motion by Alex Jones’ lawyers blocked asset transfer, prompting a Texas judge to halt the licensing deal that would let The Onion use Infowars’ trademarks and content while a receiver prepares liquidation. A hearing is set for May 28.
Background: Defamation Judgments and Prior Auction
Infowars faces liquidation after Sandy Hook families secured $1 billion judgments against Alex Jones, who filed for bankruptcy. In November 2024 an auction named The Onion the bidder for Infowars’ Free Speech Systems, but a federal judge reversed the award.
Key Legal Milestones
Key dates: November 2024 auction named The Onion the bidder for Infowars’ Free Speech Systems, later reversed; early May 2024 emergency motion blocked asset transfer; May 28 2024 hearing on The Onion licensing; June 14 2024 Alex Jones appeared before a Houston bankruptcy judge, which Mark Bankston condemned.
Official Statements
The Onion CEO Ben Collins called the order “newly insane, unprecedented legal stalling.” Alex Jones said Third Circuit will overturn it and accused judges of bias. Sandy Hook families’ lawyer Mark Bankston said Infowars is “dead” and that Jones is trying to keep a “bloated corpse” alive.
Criticism from Victims’ Families
Sandy Hook families argue Jones’ filings aim to avoid $1 billion judgments and keep Infowars operating despite its role in conspiracy theories. Federal judge’s reversal of November 2024 auction also raises doubts about Onion’s bid and bankruptcy process fairness.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
At the May hearing, the Texas Supreme Court had not issued a decision on the appeal, leaving the licensing deal’s outcome uncertain. Sources do not detail the procedural flaws that led the federal judge to overturn the November 2024 auction.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This newly insane, unprecedented legal stalling does nothing but delay our deal with the receiver to take control of InfoWars,” — Ben Collins, CEO, The Onion
- “I said days ago there’s no way the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas doesn’t overturn this — you know they’re all Democrats — because it’s so outrageous what you’ve done,” — Alex Jones, Infowars host
- “As far as the world is concerned, Infowars is dead. Everybody knows that,” — Mark Bankston, lawyer for Sandy Hook victims’ families
- “He’s trying to keep the bloated corpse of a media organization alive. It’s all a joke. Everybody knows where this is going.” — Mark Bankston, lawyer for Sandy Hook victims’ families
Implications
If The Onion obtains a license, revenue from Infowars could be redirected to Sandy Hook families, and converting the platform into satire may curb the spread of conspiracy-theory content that has caused real-world harm.
Next Steps
The May 28 hearing will decide if the Texas receiver can grant The Onion a license for Infowars trademarks and content. Ongoing appeals and a Texas Supreme Court ruling could clear the path for the takeover or keep the block on asset transfers.
