Marjorie Taylor Greene Ripped For Ludicrous Defense Of Alex Jones
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) went to bat for fellow conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, saying “all he did was speak words” after a jury ordered the Infowars host to pay Sandy Hookvictims’ families nearly $1 billion for his lies about the elementary school massacre.
“Were his words wrong and did he apologize? Yes,” Greene tweeted on Wednesday. “That’s what freedom of speech is. Freedom to speak words. Political persecution must end.”
Greene, who has a history of pushing conspiracy theories about mass shootings, praised Jones and claimed he’s been “right pretty much most of the time” after he lost an August defamation trial for lying about Sandy Hook. Her comments after the latest verdict echoed Jones’ failed free-speech defense.
Jones repeatedly claimed the 2012 school massacre was faked and involved actors. In reality, it left 20 children and six adults dead.
No matter what you think of Alex Jones all he did was speak words.
He was not the one who pulled the trigger.
Were his words wrong and did he apologize? Yes.
That’s what freedom of speech is. Freedom to speak words.
Political persecution must end.https://t.co/3X81xOCS9j— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 12, 2022
Greene was lashed on Twitter for her comments.
Video: Alex Jones' deposition on Sandy Hook shooting
Erica Lafferty, the daughter of slain Sandy Hook principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, pointed out that Jones was holding a press conference outside the courthouse as she was inside testifying how Sandy Hook conspiracy theory backers threatened her with rape and death because of Jones’ falsehoods.
Uh, @RepMTG - HE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE AS I WAS TESTIFYING ABOUT THE RAPE THREATS THAT HIS FOLLOWERS SENT TO ME. https://t.co/aOLSBubwTS
— Erica Leslie Lafferty (@ericalaff) October 13, 2022
Did you also miss him doubling down saying that the shooting did look “synthetic” - AS WE WERE IN COURT FOR THIS TRIAL?! https://t.co/aOLSBubwTS
— Erica Leslie Lafferty (@ericalaff) October 13, 2022
Others noted that free speech doesn’t excuse the consequences of lying. Yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theater is speaking a word, too, one person pointed out.
I really wish people would get the concept of free speech: you're free to say whatever you want, but you aren't free of the consequences of your words. https://t.co/487R9uEz0E
— FormerGregSamsa (@MJaMitchell) October 12, 2022
Defamation is not protected speech. You should talk to the Former guy you are so proud of he sues people for defamation all the time. https://t.co/fuKY1ts2bk
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 12, 2022
Didn't realize the Sandy Hook parents were the government persecuting someone for speaking words. https://t.co/Em0xTWpHK5
— Knowing Better (@KnowingBetterYT) October 12, 2022
this you? https://t.co/hJKe8lsDmFpic.twitter.com/QaewngMcKX
— Strawbærry Narwhal ‽ (@unvarnishedvoid) October 13, 2022
I'm looking forward to you condemning Trump for engaging in the "political persecution" of CNN. https://t.co/ja3z9yvytg
— Pé🌻 (@4everNeverTrump) October 12, 2022
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.