Texas Appeals Court Blocks The Onion's Infowars Takeover
A Texas appeals court has placed a temporary hold on The Onion's agreement to acquire Alex Jones' Infowars platforms, leaving the arrangement uncertain. On Wednesday, the Texas Third Court of Appeals granted an emergency request from Jones' legal team, pausing the transfer of assets. A hearing that was set for Thursday in Travis County District Court was converted into a status conference, with Judge Maya Guerra Gamble rescheduling for May 28. The Onion's initiative is part of the liquidation process for Free Speech Systems LLC, aimed at addressing over $1 billion in defamation judgments owed to families of Sandy Hook victims. The families' attorneys have urged the Texas Supreme Court to reverse the decision. Jones claimed victory, while The Onion's CEO Ben Collins described the delay as "insane."
Key facts
- The Texas Third Court of Appeals temporarily blocked the transfer of Infowars assets to The Onion.
- A Travis County District Court hearing on April 30, 2026, became a status conference due to the appeals court ruling.
- Judge Maya Guerra Gamble set a new hearing for May 28.
- The Onion's deal would give it temporary authority to use Infowars' trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property.
- Infowars is being liquidated to pay over $1 billion in defamation judgments to Sandy Hook families.
- Lawyers for Sandy Hook families asked the Texas Supreme Court to overturn the appeals court ruling.
- The Onion's CEO Ben Collins criticized the legal delays as 'insane' and 'unprecedented.'
- Alex Jones declared victory and called the Onion's plan illegal.
- This is the second legal setback for The Onion; a federal judge overturned a previous auction in November 2024.
- Jones has set up new platforms including a phone app and websites, and his X account with 4.5 million followers is unaffected.
- Attorney Mark Bankston stated 'Infowars is dead' and accused Jones of delaying liquidation.
- Jones said he has a new studio nearing completion and planned to leave his current building at midnight.
Entities
Artists
- Alex Jones
- Ben Collins
- Mark Bankston
- Ryan Chapple
- Maya Guerra Gamble
- Gregory Milligan
Institutions
- The Onion
- Infowars
- Free Speech Systems LLC
- Texas Third Court of Appeals
- Travis County District Court
- Texas Supreme Court
- Sandy Hook Elementary School
- Associated Press
- Austin American-Statesman
Locations
- Austin
- Texas
- Houston
- Little Rock
- Arkansas
- Hartford
- Connecticut
- Seattle