how much actually will go to the parents of jesse lewis.number of $45.2 million in punitive damages today. followed with $4.1 million in compensation from yesterday. so about $50 million altogether. wolf. >> let me get some legal reaction right now. miguel, stand by. dave ehrenberg is joining us. the state attorney for palm beach county. $45.2 million in punitive damages for a little bit more than $4 million awarded yesterday. what is your reaction? >> wolf, i think this is a victory for the plaintiff tz. because after yesterday's verdict, just $4.1 million, a lot of us were hoping that the hammer would come down today and it did. and so this hammer will have to be reduced perhaps by the statutory cap. but it does get the plaintiffs closer to the $150 million that they sought. and keep in mind, this is so much bigger than the amount that was offered by jones' lawyers. he offered $8. and so this is a victory no matter how you look at it. and keep in mind also, this is just the first of three trials where juries will get to decide how much jo

really -- there's some very emotional moments that came out of court, including when the family of jesse lewisven faced alex jones, this right wing conspiracy theorist who peddled lies about the sandy hook shooting. i want to take you back to earlier this week when scarlett lewis, jesse's mother, faced jones and told him not just about her family and the families of so many other sandy hook victims have been tormented because of his lies, but the way she described it, that her 6-year-old son's memory was basically tarnished by the lies that he peddled. >> my son existed, jesse was real. i am a real mom. there's records of jesse's birth, of me. i mean, i have a history. and there's nothing that you could have found, because it doesn't exist, that i'm deep state. it's just not true. >> reporter: so the fact that the jury found him at least economically liable or at least financially liable, that's certainly one victory for jesse lewis' family. but the other is the fact that his lies that were potentially exposed here, that alex jones' lies were exposed in an open court. now, the next chapter of

he is the father of 6-year-old jesse lewis killed at sandy hook elementary in 2012. >> when you lose you're losing part of yourself, and those feelings don't go aquay. >> reporter: heslan and jesse's mom scarlett lewis are suing conspiracy theorist alex jones. jones on his "infowars" program told his audience of millions that the massacre was a hoax, calling the victims and their families crisis actors. >> they staged sandy hook. the evidence is overwhelm ing. >> reporter: the parents are asking for $150 million, saying they've endured years of harassment and threat by jones' followers. >> alex started this fight and i'll finish this fight. >> reporter: calling jones a coward for not being present for his testimony, but jones was in court this afternoon as scarlett lewis, the boy's mother took the stand and addressed him directly. >> my son existed. you're still on your show today trying to say that i'm implying that i'm an actress. >> raise your right hand. >> reporter: late today jones took the stand in his own defense. >> i never intentionally tried to hurt you. the internet had a

that is until the parents of 6 year-old jesse lewis and other victims. parents filed a defamation suit against him and are seeking as much as 150 million dollars in damages. why do you think was a conspiracy? i saw powerful forces politicized. >> i think we should consciously didn't want to believe it is was being blamed collectively on gun owners. and that's retrospect years later. what i realize that i've got to get used to go overboard and believe everything will stay. jones remorseful. this came after the father of jesse lewis testified about the suffering and death threats families endured because of what jones claimed that if you are sorry and regretful about your words cause harm to parents. >> how do you plan to show rather than just tell that you are sorry. >> i want to give it show the world that that that that was misrepresented its not a y m, but that i have done some things that are wrong and i didn't do it on purpose. with the judge asked several times if they should be punishment for his actions blaming responded this way. but i didn't do

. >> reporter: the pltsparents ofn 6-year-old jesse lewis told the jury that jones through his media organization info wars tarnished their son's legacy and tormented them for years. in a remarkable moment in court, jesse lewis' mom scarlet spoke to jones directly. >> jesse was real. i am a real mom. >> reporter: from the stand, jones told the parents that he didn't sbend intintentionally tt them, that the internet had a lot of questions and so did he. but the tapes of info wars shows years of statements like this -- >> the official story of sandy hook has more holes in it than swiss cheese. >> reporter: even while this case has been going on, jones has been on his show trashing the jury as blue collar no nothings and absurdly trying to link the judge to pedophilia setting up this awkward moment. >> you're telling the world not to believe what happens in this courtroom because the judge worked with child protective services who you say is involved with pedophilia and child trafficking, correct? >> i said i don't not stand behind it, i need to see, not just clips. the judge is the fir

i think what is important here is what we heard from the parents of jesse lewis here, some emotional stimony including from his mother, scarlet lewis, who said the years of lies coming from alex jones not only they felt stained the legacy of their son, but also tore memented them for yea. this is how scarlett lewis responded or at least reacted to the decision handed down by a jury yesterday in texas. >> we can choose love and that we are all responsible for one ano another. care and concern is so important, and we saw what happens when there is a dirth of that. so i hope that we all just go home tonight and everybody that's reading these articles and hearing this message and you choose love with your kids because you can, realize that you have a choice and your choice is love. >> so the big question now, what are the chances that jesse lewis's parents will actually see all of the compensation awarded by the jury yesterday. the answer is not good, at least not in texas here because of that cap that's been set by texas law of $750,000 per plaintiff. elie honig, one of our legal analyst

but at the end of the day what you have here is alex jones now not only facing the families of jesse lewisbeen tormented by his lies for so many years, but also facing his lies finally and admitting that basically lies he spread to his many, many viewers. the fight is not over for these families and also those who are still taking him to court in texas and also in the state of connecticut. >> all right. polo sandoval, thank you so much. >>> still ahead, a blockbuster jobs report that carries with it a double-edged sword. it decreases recession fears for now, but what impact on inflation? does it put more pressure on the fed? and find the answer that was right under their nose. or... his nonose. (fisher investments) in this market, you'll find fisherer investments is different than other money managers. (other money manager) different how? aren't we all just looking for the hottest stocks? (fisher investments) nope. we use diversified strategies to position our client's portfolios for their ng-term goals. (other mey manager) but you still sell investments that generate highommissions for yo

it's all going to the parents of 6-year-old jesse lewis, one of the students slaughtered at sandy hook elementary. jones has falsely claimed that the murder of 26 people was a hoax. cnn's polo sandoval joins us now. so how likely is it, polo, that jones will pay this full amount? >> reporter: it certainly will not be easy, pamela. let's remind viewers of the purpose of these amounts that have been established by the jury. you do have that compensatory amount that you mentioned, just over $4 million, in addition to the punitive amounts. that is meant to punish this right-wing conspiracy theorist alex jones after he was found liable not just of defamation, but also causing that emotional distress for the family of jesse lewis, but now the question is, will he? his legal team has already cited a texas law that what it does is basically cap those punitive damages at about $750,000 per plaintiff. you add it all up, that is far below the nearly $50 million that was decided on by the jury in the last couple of days. one of our great legal minds here, eli honig, a former federal prosecutor, sa

theorist alex jones for his lies, ordering him to pay $45.2 million to the family of 6-year-old jesse lewis, one of the 20 first graders and 6 staff gunned down at sandy hook elementary. the staggering sum, on top of $4 million in compensatory damages, marks the first time the firebrand host has been found financially responsible for spreading false claims about the country's deadliest school shooting. for years, jones told followers sandy hook was a hoax staged by the government to crack down on guns, even calling the victims' parents crisis actors. >> i don't think you will understand unless there is some form of punishment. >> reporter: the parents of jesse lewis testifying on the devastating toll of jones' lies -- years of harassment, violence, and death threats they've had to endure. >> jesse died a hero. >> reporter: jones finally admitting on the stand what the world knew years ago about the massacre. >> it was, especially since i've met the parents, and it's 100% real. >> reporter: jones' company has filed for bankruptcy, and he claims he's lost nearly everything after being banned

scarlett founded the jesse lewis choose love moment in honor of her son. her spoke at the definition trial last week against alex jones and were awarded nearly $50 million in spence tore and punitive damages. thanks so much for being with us. i know you've gone through what you've gone through last week the culmination of so much work you've been doing for so long. i do want to ask, alex jones handed you a note inside that courtroom. what did it say? >> he did. on the last day before the punitive damages he handed both neil and i a note and it basically said that he was very truly sorry and that he extended an olive branch and wanted to work with the choose love movement to bring more love into schools, homes and communities around the world. >> do you buy it? >> well, i'm waiting. i have hope. >> you looked into his eye in that courtroom. what did you see? >> i saw something that i didn't expect. i saw a very lonely person. i saw somebody with a huge void and i realized that that was where the lies and the greed were actually coming from. to fill that. and

. >> reporter: emotional testimony from neil heslin, the father of 6-year-old jesse lewis, who was killedmassacre at sandy hook elementary in connecticut in 2012. >> i cherish those days, those years. >> reporter: heslin and jesse's mother, scarlett lewis, are one of several families that have already successfully sued "infowars" host alex jones for defamation after jones claimed the sandy hook shooting was a hoax and claimed the victims' parents were actors. >> sandy hook is a synthetic completely fake with actors. >> reporter: now heslin and lewis are in court seeking $150 million in damages from jones, telling a jury that jones and the conspiracy theorists he enabled made their lives miserable. >> i can't even describe the last 9 1/2 years of the living hell that i and others have had to endure because of the negligence and the recklessness of alex jones. >> reporter: heslin says his family has received death threats with people even firing shots at his home. >> my home was shot up, vehicles were shot up in my yard. >> reporter: jones was not in court when heslin testified. heslin call

this is jesse's mother, scarlett lewis, confronting alex jones as she testified. >> my son existed. your show today trying to say i am implying that i am an actress, that i am deep state. truth is so vital to our world. truth is what we based our reality on. we have to agree on that to have a civil society. sandy hook is a hard truth. nobody would ever want to believe that 26 kids could be murdered. amy: for more, we're joined by "new york times" reporter elizabeth williamson who covered the this latest alex jones trail -- trial, as well as many others, and is the author of the new book "sandy hook: an american tragedy and the battle for truth." welcome to democracy now! you are in the austin, texas, courtroom, what, like 10 feet from alex jones during jury instruction? as you wrote the book, spent a good deal of time with the family members of those little children and other staff at sandy hook who were murdered. talk about what you felt was most significant about this trial and that particular moment when you have the mother confronting alex jones saying, "i am not a crisis actres

and his ex-wife is not. >> reporter: the man jones is calling slow and man la manipulated, jesse lewis' father . [ inaudible ]. >> i share some things most years. >> reporter: in all, families of seven victims and one fbi agent have successfully sued alex jones for defamation in three different trials taking place this both texas and connecticut. jones testified that he was simply trying to get answers to questions that others were asking. >> i never intentionally tried to hurt you. i never even said your name until this case came to court. i didn't even know who you were until a couple years ago when all this started up. the internet had a lot of questions. i had questions. >> reporter: based on a separate legal filing, families of sandy hook victims allege jones is using bankruptcy laws to shield tens of millions of dollars from any possible liability. miguel marquez, cnn, new york. >>> still ahead, baseball says good-bye to a legend. we'll look back at the life and legacy of vin scully after the break. lactaid is 100% real milk, just without the lactose. tastes great in our iced cof

and his ex-wife is not. >> reporter: the man jones is calling slow and manipulated, jesse lewis' fatherappy years. [ inaudible ]. >> i cherish those days. those years. >> reporter: in all, families of seven victims and one fbi agent have successfully sued alex jones for defamation in three different trials taking place this both texas and connecticut. jones testified that he was simply trying to get answers to questions that others were asking. >> i never intentionally tried to hurt you. i never even said your name until this case came to court. i didn't even know who you were until a couple years ago when all this started up. the internet had a lot of questions. i had questions. >> reporter: based on a separate legal filing, families of sandy hook victims allege jones is using bankruptcy laws to shield tens of millions of dollars from any possible liability. miguel marquez, cnn, new york. >>> the burn pits bill finally passed by the senate, secretary of veteran affairs joins "new day" next. >>> plus the lasting legacy of a true baseball legend. for strength and energy. woo hoo! ensure,

you do the math and that is far from the nearly $49 million that the jury said this week that jesse lewis's see what the next stage will be. alex jones' attorneys basically filed an objection to the jury's decision. and in terms of what may happen next for the plaintiff's family, we heard from one of our cnn legal analysts that explained what might be the next step and that could be to file a counter argument that that texas law that caps those limits that that is unconstitutional for victims such as themselves. we'll see if that plays out as the next battle for the family gets ready to start. >> alex jones has tried to claim he's broke. it's hard to believe anything he's said. but listen to what he's said. >> any compensation above $2 million will sink us. >> $4.2 million, that's my money than my company and i personally have. i don't have the millions of dollars they claim i have. hundreds of millions of dollars we don't have. >> what's the reality of the situation? >> reporter: he says he's broke. that's not what we heard from a financial expert that was called to the witness stand to te

the parents of jesse lewis are seeking $150 million in damages. >> conspiracist alex jones facing reality, questioned by the lawyer representing parents of 6-year-old sandy hook victim jesse lewis. >> you and your company want the world to believe that this judge is rigging this court proceeding to make sure that a script, a literal script is being followed. that's what you want the world to believe, right? >> aren't i barred from talking about this? >> i'm asking you a question, mr. jones. >> the way court works is you answer a question until there's an objection. >> jones struggling to answer without being contradicted by his words or those being said by others on his behalf. just last friday robert barns filled in for jones on his info war show. >> the judge is rigging that this is literally a script. it's called a certain way for future audiences. >> jones' cross-examination follows withering testimony from scarlet lewis, jesse's mother. she faced down jones, the man who told and fanned lies of the mass murder at sandy hook never happened. her

the parents of jesse lewis responding tonight saying that they are thrilled actually with the result putting mr. jones' money to good use but it is very far away from what they had initially asked for. >> so explain where we are because you've got this but this is not the end. i understand the jury comes back tomorrow and they're going to be talking about the punitive damages that jones may o'we if the court finds his behavior especially offense of. can you put that into english and what that means in light of the $4 we found out about today. >> jones may have to pay up a lot move. we have seen so much evidence in this trial of how malicious so much of this behavior was and the effect that it had on families and jesse's parents in that same statement from their lawyer tonight said that, you know, jones will not sleep easy tonight. and, look, i think it's also important to point out that jones is at the nexus of so much in this country right now. and the place of this country is in and i think this trial really showed that. we saw that the real effect that these conspiracy theories an

jesse lewis, one of the victims of the sandy hook massacre in 2012, the massacre that alex jones forhappen, was a hoax, that the parents were crisis actors. that's why the parents sued. that's why this jury has awarded this huge sum, by the way, under texas law, may be reduced because of caps on these punitive damages. nonetheless, a big victory for the parents trying to stop alex jones from lying about their son. alex jones did apologize during this trial. the people at sandy hook did die and it really did happen. that was too late for these parents who had endured years of the lies. this is just the beginning, really, for alex jones, which could be troubling for him. he has another trial in the same courtroom next month, with the family of noah posner. knoah was the youngest victim. and at the end of proceedings, there was a question of phone text messages found during this trial, inadvertently sent from the defense to the plaintiff's attorneys, that supposedly the january 6th committee wanted to get their hands on. the judge said, if you want to send them, go ahead. that could tak

a mother and father of jesse lewis, speaking out after the decision friday. ong 20 children killed at a school in 2012. as for alex jones, he is trying to cast doubt on his trial. nbc's priscilla thompson has more from texas. priscilla, what is the family saying? >> this is a major victory for the family, but they say it shouldn't have had to come to this to get to alex jones to stop lying about the shooting. meanwhile, alex jones is now saying that the trial was raked. conspiracy theory of x jones considering to cast doubt. >> there's really weird stuff going on. >> after a resoundingly rebuke, in the infowars host was a order to paint additional 45 point $2 million in punitive damages to the parents of the sandy hook shooting victim. >> this is the verdict of the jury. >> that verdict, handed down just one day after the texas jury ordered that jones pay $4 million in compensatory damages for the years he spent calling the massacre a host. the nearly 50 million dollar payout, less than what the parents of six-year-old jesse lewis hoped for. still, they say it

the parents of jesse lewis testified in court and talked about the pain that alex jones' lies about sandyk have caused. there was a remarkable moment in particular when scarlett lewis addressed jones in court. he was in the courtroom for the second half of the day, and she was talking directly to him. i think we have a clip of that. >> there's records of jesse's birth, of me. i mean, i have -- i have a history, and there's nothing that you could have found because it doesn't exist that i'm deep state. it's just not true. i know you know that. that's the problem. i know you know that. and you keep saying it. you keep saying it. why? why some for money? >> wanted it state that jesse was fake. that -- that is an indication that he didn't exist and he didn't live. he did live. i was blessed with him for 6.5 years. >> those were only a couple moments, a snippet of what happened yesterday in court. it was really emotional, and you could see the father there was fighting back tears as he testified. the trial will continue today, and it's possible that the jury might have a verdict on how much jo

. >> that from the lawyer for the parents of six-year-old jesse lewis. he was murdered murdered in the sandy hook massacre. alex jones' defamation case in the heavenly jury. a judge already find him liable. this jury will decide how much he has to pay the parents. jones testified under oath he could not find any of his text messages or emails that mentioned sandy hook. the attorney for the parents read some of jones' messages in the courtroom today. this one about an info wars article claiming a hospital was using dummies in a coronavirus unit. jones suddenly broke into a coughing fit during the exchange. >> this is video of a medical student training to integrate makes us look ridiculous suggesting this makes covid is fake. sandy hook all over again. did i read that correctly? >> yes. what did you tell mr. watson? >> i get it. >> the lawyer read messages that he said disputed jones' claims that he lost millions of dollars, after companies including facebook and twitter kicked them off the platforms for this $200,000 a day. documents from his emails show

shorter than the hundred 50 million that they asked for in compensatory damages, saught by little jesse lewis's parents. a number of their attorney said that it came from a number of people that believe the false claims of a hoax, spewed by jones in his absolute basis argument that the newtown parents were actors. the number also factored into the emotional and mental anguish that the parents suffered, there i say continue to suffer from the day four years of harassment from jones and his followers. a seemingly last-ditch effort to try to save himself, including finally acknowledging what everyone else hopefully knew to be true, that the massacre was, quote, using his words, after ten years, 100 percent real. but the $4 million is actually not the end of the story, not in this courtroom in texas, because his legal battles are actually far from over. the compensatory damages are supposed to make you hole in some way, bring you back this where you are before this all happened, well punitive damages, they are meant to punish. tomorrow, that same jury will begin considering just how much to financi

. >> reporter: the parents of jesse lewis, one of 20 first graders who died in the massacre, are seeking $150 million in damages >> to restore the honor and legacy of my son that was tarnished by mr. jones >> reporter: jones blasted jesse's father on his show yesterday. >> he is being manipulated by some very bad people. i'll just say, because i've got to be honest, he's slow. >> reporter: but in court he fairs faced jesse' mother >> jesse was real. i am a real mom. >> reporter: testifying their 6-year-old son and their pain were real the conspiracy theorist has been a difficult witness. >> this is not your show >> reporter: admonished yesterday by the judge for lying on the stand >> you're already under oath to tell the truth. you've already violated that oath twice today. >> reporter: and today he was caught in another lie by the plaintiffs' attorney >> your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cellphone with every text message you sent for the past two years. >> reporter: including text messages about sandy hook jones failed to share as ordered by the

a cynical move, jones company filed for bankruptcy just last week complicating any recovery by jesse lewis jury decides he should pay. >> drew griffin, thank you. be sure to join drew for the cnn special report "megaphone for conspiracy, alex jones" this friday at 11:00 eastern only on cnn. >>> coming up, a top election official warning congress that they are, quote, braced for the worst ahead of the 2022 vote. but can the fbi handle the staggering volume of threats? details next. every year we try to exercise e more, to be more social, to just relax. and eating healthy every single meal? if only it was this easy for us. for too long, big pharma has been squeezing americans for every penny, and inflation has only added to the pain. bucongress has a historic opportunity to deliver relief, by passing a bill to let medicare negotiate lower drug prices and put money back in the pockets of seniors. 87% of americans support the plan, and applaud the senators who are standing up to big pharma. let's make history. vote yes to let medicare negotiate lower drug prices. my active psoriatic arthritis

that is until the parents of 6 year-old jesse lewis and other victims. parents filed a defamation suit against him and are seeking as much as 150 million dollars in damages. why do you think was a conspiracy? i saw powerful forces politicized. >> i think we subconsciously didn't want to believe it is was being blamed. >> collectively on gun owners and that's retrospect years later. what i realize that i've got to get used to go overboard and believe everything will stage jones remorseful. this came the father of jesse lewis testified about the suffering and death threats families endured because of what jones claimed that if you are sorry and your cause harm to parents. >> how do you plan to show rather than just tell that you are sorry? >> i want to showed the world that that that was misrepresented its not a y m, but that i have done some things that are wrong and i didn't do it on purpose. judge asked several times if they should be punishment for his actions. responded this way, but i didn't do this mister that's not the question. >> there were more

>> reporter: the suit was brought by the parents of 6-year-old jesse lewis, one of the 20 children and six educators killed in the shooting. on his radio show, jones accused jesse's parents, neil heslin and scarlett lewis, of being so called "crisis actors." they were subjected to years of harassment, violence, and death threats. >> i can't even describe the last 9 1/2 years of the living hell that i and others have had to endure. >> reporter: jesse's mother confronting jones about his lies. >> you keep saying it. why? why? for money? >> reporter: finally, a decade after the massacre, jones admitting that it actually happened. it was real. >> it was -- especially since i met the parents and -- it's 100% real. >> reporter: the parents were seeking at least $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. the jury's $4 million award falling short of that. and lawyers for the family say that jones will owe a lot more than that $4 million, and the jury isn't finished with him yet. they will now decide whether to award punitive damages. this is t

the parents of six-year-old jesse lewis sued jones for claiming the 2012 massacre was a hoax and her son never died. they said his statements led to years of abuse from his followers. the abuse included gunshots fired at their home, online and phone threats, harassment, in the streets by strangers. >> i'm pleased today. it's been a long journey, and it's really nice to be able to look at my clients and say, he can't get off scott free for this. >> during the testimony he admitted the shootings are 100% real. tomorrow the jury will decide whether to award punitive damages as well. other families have also filed lawsuit against jones. some of the governor was on the offensive again, this time calling on hollywood stopped filming in conservative states. as part of a new ad which appeared in variety. the governor said hollywood should, quote, walk the walk and stopped filming in states i don't have abortion rights and lgbtq protections. this week, he backed a bill that would provide an extension to california's film and tv production tax credit program. the latest in a string of ads call

he's the father of 6-year-old jesse lewis, killed at sandy hook elementary in 2012. >> when you lose a child, you're losing part of yourself. those feelings don't go away. >> reporter: heslin and jesse's mom are suing conspiracy theorist alex jones. jones on his infowars program told his audience of millions that the massacre was hoax, calling the victims and their families crisis actors. >> they staged sandy hook. the evidence is just overwhelming. >> reporter: parents are asking for $150 million saying they've endured years of harassment and threats by jones' followers. >> alex started the fight -- i'll finish this fight. >> reporter: heslin called jones a coward for not being present for his testimony. jones was in court as scarlett lewis, the boy's mother, took the stand and addressed him directly >> my son existed. you're still on your show today trying to say that i'm implying that i'm an actress. >> raise your right hand -- >> reporter: jones took the stand in his own defense. >> i never intentionally tried to hurt you. there were a lot of questions. i had questions. >> reporte

that is until the parents of 6 year-old jesse lewis and other victims. him and are seeking as much as 150 million dollars in damages. why do you think was a conspiracy? i saw a really powerful forces politicized. >> i think we should consciously didn't want to believe that was being blamed. >> collectively on gun owners and that's retrospective years later. what i realize that i've got to get used to go overboard and believe everything will stay. jones remorseful. this came. >> and for the father of jesse lewis testified about the suffering and death threats families endured because of what jones if you are sorry and regretful about your words cause harm to parents. >> how do you plan to show rather than just tell that you are sorry. >> i want to show the world that that that that what's been misrepresented its not a y m, but that i have done some things that are wrong and i didn't do it on purpose. judge asked several times if there should be punishment for his actions blaming responded this way. but i didn't do this mister that's not the there will mor

that is until the parents of 6 year-old jesse lewis and other victims. parents filed a defamation suit against him and are seeking as much as 150 million dollars in damages. why do you think was a conspiracy? i saw powerful forces politicized. >> i think we should consciously didn't want to believe it is was being blamed collectively on gun owners. and that's retrospect years later. what i realize that i've got to get used to go overboard and believe everything will stay. jones remorseful. this came after the father of jesse lewis testified about the suffering and death threats families endured because of what jones claimed we can. if you are sorry and regretful your words, cause harm to parents. >> how do you plan to show rather than just tell that you are sorry? i want to >> give it show the world that that that that was misrepresented its not a y m, but that i have done some things that are wrong and i didn't do it on purpose. with the judge asked several times if they should be punishment for his responded this way. but i didn't do this mister that's

that is until the parents of 6 year-old jesse lewis and other victims.st him and are seeking as much as 150 million dollars in damages. why do you think was a conspiracy? i saw powerful forces politicized. >> i think we subconsciously didn't want to believe it is was being blamed. >> collectively on gun owners and that's retrospect years later. what i realize that i've got to get used to go overboard and believe everything will stay. jones remorseful. this came the father of jesse lewis testified about the suffering and death threats families endured because of what jones if you are genuinely sorry and your cause harm to parents. >> how do you plan to show rather than just tell that you are sorry. >> i want to show the world that that that that what's been misrepresented its not but that i have done some things that are wrong and i didn't do it on purpose. judge asked several times if they should be punishment for his blaming responded this way. but i didn't do this mister that's not the there will more longer pauses when the judge has multiple times how

. >> reporter: the man jones is calling slow and manipulated jesse lewis's father, neil heslan. jesse. >> reporter: in all, families of seven victims and one fbi agent have successfully sued alex jones for defamation in three different trials, taking place in both texas and connecticut. jones testified he was simply trying to get answers to questions that others were asking. >> i never intentionally tried to hurt you. i never even said your name until this case came to court. i didn't even know who you were until a couple years ago when all this started up. the internet had a lot of questions. i had questions. >> reporter: based on a separate legal filing, families of sandy hook victims alleged jones is using bankruptcy laws to shield tens of millions of dollars from any possible liability. miguel marquez, cnn, new york. >> a lot to discuss, joining me is elizwet williamson of the new york times who was in the austin courtroom today. author of extraordinary book "sandy hook:an american tragedy and the battle for truth." elizabeth, what happened in the courtroom today after the j

>> reporter: a texas jury has ordered alex jones to pay more than $4 million to the parents of jesse lewis killed in the sandy hook massacre. it's the first time the "info. wars" host has been held financially liable for falsely claiming the attack that killed 20 children and six educators in newtown, connecticut, was a hoax. >> i can't even describe the last 9.5 years of the living hell that i and others have had to endure because of the negligence and the recklessness of alex jones. >> reporter: on his radio and webcast show, "info. wars," jones said the sandy hook shooting was fabricated. on the witness stand he reversed course. >> it's 100% real. i think sandy hook happened. i think it's terrible. >> reporter: lawyers for the family brought up shocking revelations that jones' attorney accidentally snt them years worth of text messages showing jones had withheld evidence. >> mr. jones in discovery, you were asked do you have text messages on your phone, and you said no. correct? you said that under oath. didn't you? >> i was mistaken. [ inaudible ] >> it was my goal when i started on th

jesse lewis took the stand.y say that the hoax claims pushed by jones made their lives a living of death threats, online abuse and harassment. they are suing jones and seeking 150 million dollars in damages. jones says that he never intended to hurt them. they say an apology will not suffice. the 2012 sandy hook elementary school shooting claimed the lives of 26 people. 20 of them were children. the incident is the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in u.s. history. the man accused of opening fire on a july 4th parade in highland park. illinois has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 21 year-old robert crimo is facing 117 felony counts for the murders of 7 people have for hurting dozens of other people. >> the motive still not clear on this case. his parents say that he had been getting treatment for mental health problems. a recent study says more great white sharks are living in the monterey bay, the bay aquarium, 100 sharks using electronic. >> tags for nearly 2 decades. the goal here was to learn

. >> reporter: alex jones was ordered to pay $4 million to the parents of jesse lewis killed at sandyelementary in 2012. the parents were seeking $150 million from jones for using his info wars program to repeatedly spread false claims calling the massacre where 20 children and six adults were killed a hoax. >> the official story of sandy hook has more holes than swiss cheese. >> reporter: jones took the defense and admitted the shooting happened. >> i think sandy hook happened and it's a terrible event. >> reporter: in a bombshell yesterday lawyers said newly discovered texts from jones shows he withheld evidence in his defamation lawsuit. >> mr. jones, in discovery, you were asked do you have sandy hook text messages on your phone and you said no, correct? you said that under oath, didn't you. >> if i was mistaken, i was mistaken. you've got the messages right there. >> reporter: you know. yes, i do. >> reporter: the 4.1 million awarded today is far less than the 150 million parents had originally sought but there could be more in the punitive phase which starts tomorrow. margaret.

>> reporter: alex jones was ordered to pay $4.1 million to the parents of 6-year-old jesse lewis, whoook elementary in 2012. the parents were seeking $150 million from jones for using his "infowars" program to repeatedly spread false claims, calling the 2012 sandy hook massacre where 20 children and 6 adults were killed a hoax. >> the official story of sandy hook has more holes in it than swiss cheese. >> reporter: jones took the stand in his own defense on wednesday, where he finally admitted under oath that he knew the mass shooting really happened. >> it's 100% real. i think sandy hook happened. i think it's a terrible event. >> reporter: but in a late bombshell yesterday, lawyers for the family said newly discovered texts from jones shows that he withheld evidence in his defamation lawsuit. >> mr. jones, in discovery, you were asked do you have sandy hook text messages on your phone, and you said no. correct? you said that under oath, didn't you? >> if i was mistaken, i was mistaken. but you've got the messages right there. >> you know -- >> yes, i do. >> reporter: now the 4.1 mil

the parents of 6-year-old jesse lewis, a victim of the shooting, successfully sued jones for claiming the massacre was a hoax and that parents were actors in a scheme to support gun control. >> sandy hook is a synthetic, completely fake with actors. >> reporter: in court yesterday a bombshell from the plaintiff's lawyer revealing that jones' lawyers mistakenly handed over two years of text messages from jones' phone. >> mr. jones, did you know that 12 days ago, 12 days ago your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cell phone 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, and 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 you didn't have text messages about sandy hook. did you know that? >> i told you the truth. this is your perry mason moment. i gave my phone -- >> reporter: jones had testified under oath that he personally searched his phone for sandy hook related text messages but

. >> reporter: for the parents of jesse lewis, who brought the suit, the damages were far less than the $150 million they sought. but far more than the $8 jones' attorney offered in closing arguments, a dollar for each of the claims. >> the jury just returned a verdict for compensatory damages exceeding $4 million. that's a darn good start. we now have the punishment phase. >> reporter: but jones may face even bigger troubles over that trove of text messages mistakenly sent to the plaintiffs' attorney. >> i've been asked by the january 6th committee to turn the documents over. >> reporter: the texts include what the attorney called intimate messages with trump adviser roger stone. the committee is looking into jones' role in the rally and riot at the capitol. jones' attorney asked for a mistrial based on the e-mails. the judge denied the request. the jury's work is not over. it will now consider punitive damages. that process will get under way tomorrow. lester? >> anne thompson, thank you. >>> a major development in the police shooting of breonna taylor in louisville, kentucky. federal

deliberating thursday deciding how much money jones ost the parents of 6 year-old sandy hook victim jesse lewis year-old son shot in the forehead in his first grade classroom. scarlett lewis and neil heslin asking the jury for 150 million dollars in actual damages saying jones portrayal of the massacre as a hoax and the parents as actors to his millions of followers made it impossible for them to heal from their child's murder when it stated that, yes, she that is an indication >> do i was blessed with some have for >> perhaps the biggest shocking twist of the trial came wednesday when it was revealed that jones attorneys have mistakenly sent the parents attorney the last 2 years worth of text messages from joan cell phone. and as of 2 days ago, it felt pretty clear in my possession. and that is how i know by sunday when you said you didn't have text message about saying courts in texas and connecticut have already found jones liable for defamation for spreading his conspiracy theories. >> that was markie. martin reporting tonight. coming up, donald trump junior and trump have testified in a ci

million in punitive damages and 4 million in compensatory damages to the parents of slain 6-year-old jesse lewishe claimed the mass shooting was a hoax. the family's attorney says they will keep fighting to make sure jones pays. >> this house of cards is likely to come down. >> reporter: testifying under oath, jones finally admitted the m massacre happened. >> 100% real. >> reporter: he also claimed what he said was protected free speech. >> what i did to the families was wrong, but i didn't do it on purpose. >> reporter: the sandy hook parents say for them his speech had extraordinarily painful consequences. years of harassment and death threats. >> i can't even describe last nine and a half years of living hell that i and others have had to endure. >> reporter: jones still faces two other defamation trials brought by sandy hook parents. a texas law could dramatically reduce the millions of dollars the jury awarded the little boy's fam family. jones filed for bankruptcy protection and his attorneys say the show will go on. >> alex jones will be on the air today. he'll be on the air tomorrow. he

. >> reporter: the parents of 6-year-old jesse lewis seeking $150 million in damaging, telling a texas courtroom that jones has compounded their anguish by calling the 2012 school massacre a hoax. and calling them crisis actors. inciting his millions of followers against them. the parents saying they've endured violence, harassment, and death threats as a result of his toxic rhetoric. jones shaking his head as jesse's mom scarlette confronted him directly from the stand. >> you keep saying it. why? for money? >> reporter: throughout his testimony, jones stating he'd lost nearly everything after he was banned from facebook, youtube, and apple platforms. his company filing for bankruptcy. but the family's attorney revealing jones' lawyer mistakenly sent him two years worth of jones' text messages showing jones' infowars businesses brought in roughly $800,000 in one day from sales as he peddled mistruths. jones claiming in court that number wasn't the norm. on tuesday, the judge admonishing him. >> you may not tell this jury that you are bankrupt, that is also not true. you must tell the

than $4000000.00 in compensation to the parents of a child who is killed in that shooting in 2012. jesse lewis, his parents said that jones has comments lead to years of emotional distress and harassment for then including death threats. a large fire has broken out around a police, munitions store and site in a german forest. the facility is in the grin of alta forest near west berlin. the fire brigade says the blazes under control, but official still say people should stay away from the area. police are investigating dominic cane reports. this is about as close as we can get to the nerve center of operations to deal with the fire that has being here in this part of berlin in the good about area since thursday morning. the thing that matters most here for the fire services is dealing with the unexploded ordinance that is still at the center of where the fire started and emergency services have been briefing the media about the difficulties they've been facing had this to say the i'm, i wasn't back high, we have a big exclusion zone with a 1000 me to radius. that's important to know that risk f

jesse lewis parents said they faced harassment and death threats because of the lies. much higher than the $4.1 million they got today. their lawyer said the verdict is the light at the end of the tunnel for his clients. the parents lawyers say tomorrow he plans to call a witness. >> it's pretty simple. they are looking to establish how much alex jones is worth so the jury can fashion the punitive damages. it is impossible to do. the medical bills you can add up and put on a board. just deciding how angry they are. punitive damages are intended to punish someone and by their nature imagined by the jury. tomorrow -- the appellate courts with the runaway jury a huge verdict. that is a verdict -- they may be looking for something in the realm of $50 million. something less than that >> a decade. russian penal colony for having less. judge put the book to brittney griner anyways. the star was very stressed. upset and could hardly talk. after the sentence came down. >> the u.s. put on the table weeks ago. the white house is offering victor booth. in today's white house pres