Alex Jones is the star of the right-wing scene and was able to spread extreme conspiracy theories for years – without consequences. Now, however, one of these theories is causing him massive problems.
“NZZ Accent”: Exposed: America’s most vicious liar
author
David Vogel and Sebastian Panholzer
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Alex Jones is arguably America’s most influential conspiracy theorist. He represents all common theories: 9/11 was staged, Hillary Clinton runs a child trafficking ring from a Washington pizzeria, climate change is not man-made and Covid-19 is not dangerous. With his radio shows, he reaches an audience of millions and thus became a rich media entrepreneur and star of the right-wing scene.
In 2012, Jones claimed the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, which killed 20 children and eight adults, was staged to tighten gun laws. The surviving parents are paid actors – “crisis actors”. For years, Jones’ supporters harassed and stalked the families of the children killed, demanding evidence of the massacre. An intolerable situation for the parents. They sued Alex Jones, and in early August he had to stand trial for damages in a Texas court.
Something remarkable happened during the process, says Meret Baumann in the new episode of “NZZ Akzent”. Alex Jones admitted in court that the school massacre was 100 percent real. “It’s ultimately an admission that he’s a liar,” says Baumann. In an interview with David Vogel, the foreign editor talks about the rise of the right-wing media entrepreneur and puts the verdict in perspective.
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