Alex Jones apologizes for pushing 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory

[christiefan915]

A first for this nut job. The odious J Craft will be crushed.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Friday apologized to the owner of a Washington pizzeria that became the subject of a conspiracy theory about human trafficking last year.

Washington, D.C. pizza shop Comet Ping Pong was thrust into the spotlight last year after a gunman allegedly fired a shot inside the restaurant. The suspect said he was investigating the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the restaurant. The theory, which became known as Pizzagate, had circulated among far-right conspiracy theory websites and social media accounts.

“In our commentary about what had become known as Pizzagate, I made comments about Mr. Alefantis that in hindsight I regret, and for which I apologize to him,” Jones, who runs Infowars, said in a video. James Alefantis is the owner of Comet Ping Pong...

“To my knowledge today, neither Mr. Alefantis, nor his restaurant, Comet Ping Pong, were involved in any human trafficking as was part of the theories about Pizzagate that were being written about in many media outlets and which we commented upon,” Jones said."

http://thehill.com/homenews/325761-i...spiracy-theory

[Phantasmal]

A first for this nut job. The odious J Craft will be crushed.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Friday apologized to the owner of a Washington pizzeria that became the subject of a conspiracy theory about human trafficking last year.

Washington, D.C. pizza shop Comet Ping Pong was thrust into the spotlight last year after a gunman allegedly fired a shot inside the restaurant. The suspect said he was investigating the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the restaurant. The theory, which became known as Pizzagate, had circulated among far-right conspiracy theory websites and social media accounts.

“In our commentary about what had become known as Pizzagate, I made comments about Mr. Alefantis that in hindsight I regret, and for which I apologize to him,” Jones, who runs Infowars, said in a video. James Alefantis is the owner of Comet Ping Pong...

“To my knowledge today, neither Mr. Alefantis, nor his restaurant, Comet Ping Pong, were involved in any human trafficking as was part of the theories about Pizzagate that were being written about in many media outlets and which we commented upon,” Jones said."

http://thehill.com/homenews/325761-i...spiracy-theory

Well, I give him credit for apologizing.

[Althea]

Rut Roh. Where will trump get his 'facts' from now?

[christiefan915]

Well, I give him credit for apologizing.

Maybe Mr. Alefantis filed a libel suit against him.

[Minister of Truth]

Pizzagate Lives!

[Cypress]

Maybe Mr. Alefantis filed a libel suit against him.

That was the first thing that crossed my mind.
I typically do not see rightwingers apologize for libel and slander. And I have decades of observational experience on this.
One only has to look at the Orange Clown for the latest example.

If this was truly a heart felt apology, then kudos to this dude. The other possibility is that he received a visit from some lawyers with a threat of a libel suit.

[Althea]

That was the first thing that crossed my mind.
I typically do not see rightwingers apologize for libel and slander. And I have decades of observational experience on this.
One only has to look at the Orange Clown for the latest example.

If this was truly a heart felt apology, then kudos to this dude. The other possibility is that he received a visit from some lawyers with a threat of a libel suit.

Much more likely

[christiefan915]

Here it is.

Despite Jones' claim that the reason for the apology is because "we think it is the right thing to do," it may have more to do with the perceived threat of legal action from Alefantis, who wrote to Jones in February asking for several retractions. The Washington Post's Paul Farhi explains:

"Under Texas law, the Austin-based Jones had to retract or apologize for the stories by Friday — one full month after receiving Alefantis's letter — to avoid exposing InfoWars to punitive damages in a libel suit."

It's rare for Jones to make a public apology. The Infowars website has a correction section. There are only two entries, of which the Comet apology is one.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...ting-pizzagate

[zappasguitar]

A first for this nut job. The odious J Craft will be crushed.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Friday apologized to the owner of a Washington pizzeria that became the subject of a conspiracy theory about human trafficking last year.

Washington, D.C. pizza shop Comet Ping Pong was thrust into the spotlight last year after a gunman allegedly fired a shot inside the restaurant. The suspect said he was investigating the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the restaurant. The theory, which became known as Pizzagate, had circulated among far-right conspiracy theory websites and social media accounts.

“In our commentary about what had become known as Pizzagate, I made comments about Mr. Alefantis that in hindsight I regret, and for which I apologize to him,” Jones, who runs Infowars, said in a video. James Alefantis is the owner of Comet Ping Pong...

“To my knowledge today, neither Mr. Alefantis, nor his restaurant, Comet Ping Pong, were involved in any human trafficking as was part of the theories about Pizzagate that were being written about in many media outlets and which we commented upon,” Jones said."

http://thehill.com/homenews/325761-i...spiracy-theory

You just know they must have been VERY close to suing his ass for defamation of character if Jones was willing to apologize for his sick comments.

[zappasguitar]

Maybe Mr. Alefantis filed a libel suit against him.

BINGO!!

[tsuke]

Pizzagate Lives!

#spiritcooking was more disturbing

[Cancel 2018.2]

That was the first thing that crossed my mind.
I typically do not see rightwingers apologize for libel and slander. And I have decades of observational experience on this.
One only has to look at the Orange Clown for the latest example.

If this was truly a heart felt apology, then kudos to this dude. The other possibility is that he received a visit from some lawyers with a threat of a libel suit.

Um, making an apology in the face of a threat of a lawsuit is the dumbest thing anyone could do. Maybe that is why you thought of it.

[Cypress]

Here it is.

Despite Jones' claim that the reason for the apology is because "we think it is the right thing to do," it may have more to do with the perceived threat of legal action from Alefantis, who wrote to Jones in February asking for several retractions. The Washington Post's Paul Farhi explains:

"Under Texas law, the Austin-based Jones had to retract or apologize for the stories by Friday — one full month after receiving Alefantis's letter — to avoid exposing InfoWars to punitive damages in a libel suit."

It's rare for Jones to make a public apology. The Infowars website has a correction section. There are only two entries, of which the Comet apology is one.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...ting-pizzagate

Well, there you have it folks.

I was almost tempted to give the benefit of the doubt that the apology was genuine and heartfelt.

But chalk this up as another example of rightwingers lacking the character to apologize for libel and defamation.