Satirical news platform The Onion has emerged victorious in the auction for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars, a platform that was put up for sale to settle a defamation claim stemming from Jones' false assertions that the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy was a hoax. The Onion's winning bid was supported by the families of eight victims of the school shooting and one first responder. Additionally, The Onion secured an exclusive advertising partnership with the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The news of The Onion's participation in the auction was initially reported by another outlet. However, a federal judge in Texas has called for a hearing to scrutinize The Onion's acquisition process after Jones and his legal team raised concerns about the auction's conduct. Jones was previously mandated to compensate the families of the Sandy Hook victims to the tune of $1.5 billion, yet he has been reluctant to fulfill this financial obligation, despite court documents indicating ongoing substantial monthly expenditures. The auction included a wide range of assets, from the platform's studio equipment and online dietary supplement store to a Terradyne armored truck, social media accounts, and even a Winnebago motorhome, all aimed at satisfying the settlement debts. The exact amount of The Onion's bid remains undisclosed.

Jones has been known to use Infowars as a vehicle for disseminating some of the most outrageous and offensive lies and conspiracy theories, amassing a fortune in the process by exploiting the fear he cultivated among his audience. "The Onion is honored to have acquired Infowars, and we are eager to uphold its legacy of instilling fear in its audience through falsehoods until they are compelled to part with their money," stated The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins. "Whether it's in cold, hard cash or Bitcoin, we are open to both." The concept of acquiring Infowars was first broached in June when the court announced the possibility of an auction, Collins revealed in an interview. As the bid progressed,

The Onion sought the approval of the victims' families. The revamped version of the site will serve as a satirical commentary on the media landscape that has allowed figures like Jones to thrive, according to Collins. "Our intention is to expose the economic model that has taken over our current media, where individuals provoke your anxiety and then direct you to a page to purchase a cure-all solution," he explained. To bolster The Onion's bid, the families agreed to forgo a portion of their damages to enhance the bid's overall value, as stated in a joint release. Collins did not disclose the exact bid amount but confirmed it was the highest and that the funds were provided by The Onion itself. "After enduring indescribable loss with bravery and honor, they rejected Jones' empty promises of additional compensation if they would permit him to remain on air, as doing so would have endangered other families," said Chris Mattei, an attorney representing the families and a partner at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder.

Jones persistently claimed that the 2012 mass shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, was staged and that the victims' families and first responders were "crisis actors." Throughout the trial, the plaintiffs movingly described how these lies led to relentless harassment and intensified the emotional trauma of losing their loved ones.

The tragedy claimed the lives of twenty children, aged six and seven, along with six adults. In a recent video posted on social media, Jones denounced the sale as unconstitutional and urged his followers to follow him on new platforms. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to be here until they physically remove me and turn off the lights. I'm going to demand to see their court order," he declared. Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was among those killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, stated, "The world must recognize that having a platform does not exempt one from accountability—the dismantling of Alex Jones' assets and the demise of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for."

Everything associated with Infowars, from microphones to email lists, was on the auction block to help settle Jones' settlement obligations to the Sandy Hook families after he was found guilty of defamation for labeling the 2012 massacre a hoax. Jones' supporters also participated in the bidding, with one source indicating that one of those bids was in the "seven figures" range.

Jones had mentioned on his show that "good people" were attempting to bid on Infowars to keep him broadcasting, but even if they failed, he would continue to broadcast on new platforms and social media accounts. The Onion intends to transition the website to its new content by January 2025, as detailed in a joint statement with Everytown for Gun Safety.