The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal requested by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
He was sued for defamation by the family of victims in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Jones had claimed that the shooting was staged, and the 20 children and 6 educators who died were actors.
These claims have caused his followers to harass and send threats to the victims’ families.
Jones has defended his statements and argued that they are protected under freedom of speech.
Despite this, he has lost the case under both a trial court judge and the Connecticut Supreme Court, and now will not be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
His lawyer, Norman Pattis, has called the court’s decision “a disappointment.”