The warning from a frustrated Judge Barbara Bellis came during a hearing that will determine how much Jones must pay the families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting for lying about the massacre.
Jones accused Mattei of being dishonest and said he was guilty of “chasing an ambulance” before going on a sit-in in court about “liberals.”
Bellis, who had previously warned that some of Jones’ outbursts violated court rules, reminded the Infowars founder that he was in a “court of law” and had to follow his instructions.
“It’s clearly not your show, and you have to respect the process,” Bellis told Jones. “You have to respect the rules whether you like it or not.”
Bellis instructed counsel to ensure that both parties behave properly.
Bellis warned that anyone who violates court rules going forward will face contempt of court proceedings, which he insists he wants to avoid.
The shocking episode included a day of testimony from Jones, who had never appeared before in a Connecticut libel trial. The trial comes a month after a Texas jury ordered Infowars’ parent Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, to pay the two parents nearly $50 million.
After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Jones unsubstantiatedly told his audience that the incident was staged. He admitted to the shooting, but only after charges were filed. In a 2019 affidavit, he said a “form of mental illness” caused him to make the false statements.
Bellis entered a default judgment against the Infowars founder in November 2021 for failing to comply with court orders, while Jones was sued by eight other Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut case.
In court Thursday, Jones sought to portray himself as the victim of an elaborate “deep state” conspiracy against him, countering his past unbridled rhetoric attacking the judicial system during his testimony.
Matteo referred to Jones as a “kangaroo court” and forced Jones to admit to the jury that the judge was a “tyrant.”
Mattei also addressed how Jones worries when false statements are made against him, noting that the InfoWars founder has taken legal action in the past when he felt defamed.
The attorney argued to the jury that the lies Jones told about the families of the Sandy Hook victims were more damaging than the commentary that troubled Jones and prompted his legal action.
Mattei, who argued during the trial that Jones pushed the Sandy Hook lie for profit, also questioned whether Jones was using the ordeal as a marketing stunt to sell products to his loyal fan base.
Since the judge has already ruled that Jones is liable, the jury decides on the amount of damages to award the plaintiffs. Although the families did not specify a dollar figure, an attorney for the families last week asked jurors to “send a message” to the public about its decision.
The plaintiffs in the three Connecticut lawsuits against Jones, including family members of eight school students and staff members and an FBI agent who responded to the scene, were all briefed in the trial that began earlier this month.
Jones’ attorney, Norman Battis, argued that the Sandy Hook plaintiffs’ claims were “exaggerated.” Battis said the Sandy Hook families have “become partisans” and the defense will argue “because they want to remain silent, the harm is overstated.” [Jones] For political reasons.”
