I initially planned to write about basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar today, but I've decided to focus my attention on Alex Jones instead. In case you don't remember who he is, think Infowars and Sandy Hook.
But first, a footnote about Kareem. He recently raised $2.8 million by auctioning off his NBA rings and trophies, which were gathering dust, so students can pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering and math (better known as STEM programs). My hope is other sports stars follow in Cap's generous footsteps.
As far as Jones is concerned, I hope no one follows in his measly hoof prints. As the families of Sandy Hook victims seek more than $1.4 billion awarded by courts for Jones’s cruel lies about the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting, today's New York Times story documents, in great detail, how Jones is transferring millions of dollars to family and friends, potentially out of their reach.
According to The Times, "The Infowars conspiracy broadcaster, who faces more than $1.4 billion in legal damages for defaming the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, has devised a new way to taunt them: wriggling out of paying them the money they are owed." How?
Jones has transferred millions of dollars in property, cash and business deals to family and friends, including to a new company run by his former personal trainer. At the same time, he has spent heavily on luxuries, including $80,000 on a private jet, bodyguards and a rented villa while he was in Connecticut to testify at a trial last fall.
Before anyone asks, here's what Jones said last month on his new podcast, “If anybody thinks they’re shutting me down, they’re mistaken."
I’m not a lawyer or psychiatrist, but I do know right from wrong. It was right for Kareem to auction off his sports memorabilia, but it is wrong (i.e., sickening) that Jones is allowed to game the bankruptcy system so he doesn't have to pay the Sandy Hook families.
As Jones has said, “We’re doing well in Chapter V.” Despite misstating the name of the rule, he then added, “Whatever judgments they have can’t shut us down. Whatever profit there is in the future these jerks get, but who cares, we’re still on air.”
Yes, he still is on the air. If you have a different point of view about the "jerks" Jones mentioned, please feel free to share it with me.
-DF
He and that whack job Russ Limbaugh are predators. They don't believe what they are pushing but it gets them an audience - that is all they care about (Limbaugh has since passed away). These people are scum and don't deserve the attention they get.