On a Wednesday morning, the controversial media empire of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, known as Infowars, is scheduled to be auctioned off in a court-ordered sale. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, a bid in the seven-figure range has already been placed, with the bidder being described as an "ally" of Jones who wishes for Jones to continue his broadcasts on the Infowars platform under new ownership.

The identity of the bidder remains undisclosed. Jones has repeatedly stated that his supporters are placing bids on his company, which is being sold to help cover the over $1 billion in damages he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Jones was found guilty of defamation by juries in Texas and Connecticut for using his Infowars platform to falsely claim that the massacre was a hoax.

Over the years, Jones has not only used his media platform to disseminate malicious lies and conspiracy theories but has also amassed a fortune in the millions of dollars. However, the seven-figure bid from a Jones ally raises the possibility that a well-funded buyer could purchase the company and then reinstall Jones as its host, effectively returning control to him. Everything from the platform's studio equipment, online dietary supplement store, a Terradyne armored truck, Winnebago motorhome, and its social media accounts are up for grabs to the highest bidder.

"I saw the auctioneers inside the building, surveying the items since their last visit to ensure everything is present," Jones said on his show on Monday. "Now, good guys say they're going to buy it. If good guys buy it, Infowars will continue." Among those Jones considers "good guys" interested in purchasing Infowars is Roger Stone, a long-time political advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, according to the individual with knowledge of the matter. Stone has not responded to requests for comment, and the AP first reported Stone's interest in the auction.

If "bad guys" acquire Infowars, as Jones referred to them on Monday, he will "keep broadcasting until they show up" after the Wednesday auction and shut down the fringe outlet. If this occurs, Jones stated he will move to a new social media account called AJNLive to continue his online rants. "A new studio has been set up, with satellite uplinks, servers, equipment, legal, everything. Keep fighting because they're going to keep coming after us," he said, urging his fans to continue purchasing his products to help fund his next venture.

Regardless of what happens to Infowars or where Jones ends up broadcasting from, he will still be obligated to pay the Sandy Hook families until his debts are settled. An attorney representing Jones declined to comment. Among those from the other end of the spectrum who have expressed interest in purchasing Infowars is the satirical news site The Onion, according to individuals with knowledge of the matter. The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins, was previously a journalist at NBC where he extensively covered disinformation and conspiracy theorists, including Jones and Infowars. In June, when a social media user suggested that Collins had the opportunity to "do the funniest thing ever" and buy Infowars, Collins responded with a screenshot of an Elon Musk post saying, "Looking into it." Representatives for The Onion did not respond to requests for comment.

The Barbed Wire, a progressive Texas-based outlet, stated that it had planned to bid in the Infowars auction but ultimately decided against it. "We are grateful to have raised thousands of dollars from a few hundred supporters towards this effort. However, we have spoken to a number of similarly ideologically aligned bidders and we are certain we will be outbid by those in the six and seven-figure range," the outlet said in a statement on Tuesday. The left-leaning media watchdog group Media Matters had also expressed interest in bidding for the outlet, as reported by Semafor in September.

Bidders were required to put down 10% of an initial offer and sign a nondisclosure agreement, as per the terms set out by the auction house ThreeSixty Asset Advisors. Anything not sold on Wednesday will be available for public auction in December. "Notice of the outcome will be filed with the Court promptly following the conclusion of the auction process," a representative for the firm told . Earlier this fall, attorneys representing some of the Sandy Hook families expressed hope that the auction would mark the end of Jones' control of the platform, calling it a "significant step forward." "This brings the families closer to their goal of holding him accountable for the harm he has caused," said Christopher Mattei, an attorney representing some of the families in Connecticut.