Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems, based in Austin, Texas, have both filed for bankruptcy in response to a lawsuit brought against Jones by the families of the victims of the 2012 Newtown school shooting. Jones' plan would pay the Sandy Hook families a minimum total of $55 million over 10 years, while Free Speech Systems' plan would pay $15 million. The court will decide which plan is the most beneficial and issue a final order in February.
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Two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, have been awarded $148 million in damages by a Washington, D.C. jury for defamation by Rudy Giuliani. The award includes $33 million for defamation, $40 million for emotional distress, and $75 million in punitive damages. This is the largest award ever given in a defamation case in the District of Columbia and a major victory for the two women.
The White House security adviser has warned against making "broad judgement" over the deaths of three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly killed by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military expressed "deep sorrow" and is investigating the incident, while President Biden has been briefed by his security team. The U.S. and Israel are discussing a timetable for scaling back combat operations, and the White House is "deeply saddened" by the deaths and will continue to monitor the situation.
A federal jury in Washington, D.C. has ordered former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million in damages to two former Georgia election workers for falsely claiming they engaged in a fake ballot scheme. After four days of emotional testimony, the jury found that Giuliani had defamed the two women and unleashed a vicious campaign of harassment against them. Giuliani, who served as former President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, has yet to comment on the jury's decision.
Deja Nicole Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old student who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, was sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect. Taylor had pleaded guilty to a federal charge of using marijuana while owning a gun, and must serve 21 months on that charge before beginning her state sentence. The school has since resumed classes, and the district has implemented additional safety measures.
A judge has approved new charges against Ian Cramer, the son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, including an upgraded homicide count and drug possession charges, in connection to a crash that killed Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin. The case has been referred to the North Dakota Supreme Court, and if the charges are not dismissed, Cramer will face a jury trial. Sen. Cramer has not commented on the case.
On Sunday, an argument between an elderly couple in Washington, D.C. over pancakes ended in tragedy when 81-year-old Sharron Schwartz was fatally stabbed in the back by her 85-year-old husband, Steven Schwartz. Steven Schwartz has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed and is being held without bond. The incident has shocked the local community and the Metropolitan Police Department is continuing to investigate.
Nassau County Republicans have selected Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian immigrant and former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, as their nominee for the upcoming special election to replace ousted GOP Rep. George Santos. Pilip will face former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), the Democratic nominee, in the Feb. 13 special election. Pilip has been endorsed by the Nassau County Republican Party and is seen as a competitive candidate in the race for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives.