The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from controversial right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who sought to overturn a nearly $1.5 billion defamation judgment against him. The ruling stems from Jones’ false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators, was a hoax. The judgment, issued in 2022, has forced Jones to sell his media company, Infowars, to satirical news outlet The Onion, a move he argued would cause irreparable harm to him and his 30 million followers. Despite the court’s decision, Jones has yet to pay any of the damages owed to the victims’ families. The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its refusal to hear the case. Jones’ legal team argued that his statements were protected under the First Amendment, akin to journalistic freedoms, and that the financial penalties were excessively punitive. In his appeal, Jones described the judgment as a ‘financial death penalty.’ While a bankruptcy judge previously blocked The Onion’s attempt to acquire Infowars, the media company may soon be back on the market, offering The Onion another opportunity. Legal challenges against Jones have intensified since two juries found him liable for defamation and emotional distress related to his false claims about the Sandy Hook tragedy. Following the initial verdict in Connecticut, Jones filed for bankruptcy in Texas, prompting the auction of Infowars to satisfy the judgment. During Texas court proceedings, Jones admitted the Sandy Hook attack was ‘100% real,’ a stark reversal from his earlier assertions that the event was staged as part of a government conspiracy to disarm Americans.