Thursday, August 04, 2022

Schadenfreude: MAGA Edition

Alex Jones' Damning Texts ACCIDENTALLY Sent to Sandy Hook Lawyer
Justin Rohrlich, The Daily Beast, August 3, 2022 (my emphasis)
A day after far-right conspiracy-monger Alex Jones was scolded by a judge for chewing gum in the courtroom, opposing lawyers dropped a bombshell revelation they said proved the embattled InfoWars host has been lying on the stand.

Jones testified on Wednesday for the second time in attempting to fend off one of many defamation lawsuits brought by families affected by the Sandy Hook massacre. They are seeking at least $150 million from Jones and his bankrupt media company, Free Speech Systems. Numerous parents of children killed in the 2012 school shooting blame Jones for spreading falsehoods and disinformation about the tragedy that brought on ceaseless abuse, harassment, and death threats.

On Tuesday, Jones insisted, under oath, that he had fully complied with the court's discovery process, and that there were no text messages on his phone in which he discussed Sandy Hook, as the other side had requested.

On Wednesday, attorney Mark Bankston informed a seemingly stunned Jones that he had evidence this was untrue.

"Did you know [that] 12 days ago your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cell phone, with every text message you've sent for the past two years?" he asked. "And when informed, [they] did not take any steps to identify it as privileged, or protected in any way?" . . .

Bankston continued, "In discovery, you were asked if you had Sandy Hook text messages on your phone, and you said, 'No.' Correct?" Bankston asked. "You said that under oath."

Jones replied, "If I was mistaken, I was mistaken. You've got the text messages right there."

"You know what perjury is, right?" Bankston shot back. "I just want to make sure before we go any further... You testified under oath that you personally searched your phone for the phrase 'Sandy Hook,' and [said] there were no messages...You lied."

"No, I did not lie," Jones answered.

Previously, Jones testified that he didn't use email so he would not be providing any during discovery. However, Bankston stunned Jones again on Wednesday by displaying his own emails as evidence—which also came from Jones' phone.

"You'd agree these are emails you sent to your lawyers, your staff, and others, concerning your business operations, Sandy Hook, [and] other topics… ?"

Jones responded, "This is ridiculous." . . .

Bankston then played footage of Jones calling Sandy Hook a concocted scheme by the government.

"Sandy Hook [was] 'synthetic,' completely fake, with actors, in my view," Jones said in the clip. "Manufactured. I couldn't believe it at first. I knew they had actors, they are clearly, but I thought they killed some real kids. And it just shows how bold they are, that they clearly used actors, I mean, they even ended up using photos of kids killed in mass shootings… in a fake mass shooting in Turkey. Or, uh, Pakistan." . . .

In closing arguments, which began Wednesday afternoon, plaintiff's co-counsel Kyle Farrar called the last 10 years "the most horrific decade of disinformation in American history."

And while Jones has a constitutional right to say whatever he likes, he still must be held accountable for the consequences of any harmful statements.

"Speech is free," Farrar told the jury, "but you have to pay for your lies."
But, wait . . . there's MORE!
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