Alex Jones’ personal texts introduced at trial due to alleged mistake by his attorneys

In one of the most astonishing courtroom scenes in recent memory, Infowars host Alex Jones was surprised on the stand Wednesday with the revelation that his own lawyers allegedly mistakenly turned over years’ worth of his personal text messages to the opposition.

Wednesday’s trial marks the winding down of a long, tortuous legal battle between several parents of children who died in the Sandy Hook school shooting and Jones, one of America’s most influential and destructive conspiracy theorists. In 2018, the parents of Noah Pozner and Jesse Lewis, two of the 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, filed suit against Jones for defamation. Over the years, Jones has used his platform on Infowars to repeatedly spread lies about the Sandy Hook shooting, including suggesting both children and families were hired actors, claiming the school was not operating during the time of the shooting and referring to the tragedy as a “hoax.”

In September 2021, Jones lost the trial by default. Although he and his lawyers were given years to turn over documents in discovery — such as emails and cellphone records — they refused to fully comply. As a result, Texas district court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble handed down the rare ruling, deciding that due to Jones’ noncompliance with court orders, he had lost the case even though it was never tried before a jury.

Now, a Travis County jury is determining how much Jones owes to the plaintiffs; the families are seeking at least $150 million in damages.

This week, Jones’ attorneys made the potentially ill-advised decision to allow their client to take the stand. Under cross-examination by plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Bankston, Jones admitted multiple times that sworn statements he gave in deposition and on the stand were in direct conflict with statements he has made on his show, prompting Bankston to ask Jones on Wednesday, “Do you know what perjury is?”

Then, Bankston shocked the courtroom — and Jones — by producing private text messages from Jones’ phone.

“So you did get my text messages, and you said you didn’t,” Jones said on the stand. “Nice trick.”

After letting out a sharp laugh, Bankston replied, “Yes, Mr. Jones, indeed. You didn’t give this text message to me. You don’t know where this came from. Do you know where I got this?”

When Jones replied he didn’t, Bankston continued, “Mr. Jones, did you know that 12 days ago, your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cellphone with every text message you’ve sent for the past two years? And when informed, did not take any steps to identify it as privileged or protected in any way. As of two days ago, it fell free and clear into my possession, and that is how I know you lied to me when you said that you didn’t have text messages about Sandy Hook.”

Clearly flummoxed, Jones conceded to Bankston, “This is your Perry Mason moment.”

Among the texts shared with the jury, Bankston read messages that claimed Infowars sometimes made up to $800,000 a day; Jones previously claimed on the stand that Infowars lost money due to its coverage of Sandy Hook. Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, filed for bankruptcy recently, a move plaintiffs’ attorneys have claimed is a way for Jones to protect his assets before damages are assessed in the trial. 

F. Andino Reynal, lawyer for Alex Jones, questions Neil Heslin, father of 6-year-old Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, about his previous testimony in court, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin. Jones has been found to have defamed the parents of a Sandy Hook student for calling the attack a hoax.

BRIANA SANCHEZ/AP

The release of Jones’ private messages may have bigger implications for the conspiracy theorist. The date range cited by Bankston could include messages sent before, during and after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Jones was present in Washington, D.C., on the day of the riot and frequently hosted Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who is facing charges of seditious conspiracy, as a guest on Infowars.

While the court was on a break, Bankston could be heard talking to his fellow attorneys. “You know what nobody’s thought about yet?” Bankston said. “What happens when that phone goes to law enforcement.”

It’s not clear whether Jones will face additional legal ramifications for his actions at the trial, although plaintiffs’ attorneys have signaled to the judge they already proved Jones lied repeatedly on the stand. Jones’ conduct has earned him the disdain of Gamble, who on Tuesday told Jones multiple times that he had to stop rambling on the stand and answer questions directly.

“This is not your show,” Gamble said. “Your beliefs do not make something true. You are under oath.”

Jurors also heard wrenching testimony yesterday from Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed after warning his classmates to “run” when the shooter stopped to reload. At one point, Scarlett Lewis looked directly at Jones, who was sitting with his attorneys, and said, “I am a mother first and foremost and I know you are a father. My son existed. I am not deep state … I know you know that … and yet you’re going to leave this courthouse and say it again on your show.”

Scarlett Lewis, mother of 6-year-old Sandy Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, testifies against Alex Jones on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin. Jones has been found to have defamed the parents of a Sandy Hook student for calling the attack a hoax.

BRIANA SANCHEZ /AP

Lewis and Heslin testified they have experienced fear for their lives after being targeted by Infowars broadcasts. 

“I can’t even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones,” Heslin said.

Both parents expressed that an apology from Jones was not sufficient given the damage he has done.

“Alex started this fight,” Heslin testified, “and I’ll finish this fight.”

Closing arguments are being delivered today before the jury heads into deliberation.