Tim Ballard is being sued by five women accusing him of sexual misconduct and detailing what precisely they say happened. The suit was first reported by the Utah outlet KSL. vice.com/en/article/4a3… One detail in this suit that we've previously heard, but had not yet reported, is that Mr. Ballard would tell the women that the psychic medium Janet Russon told Ballard that he was "married to them in a previous life, and so their conduct was appropriate.”

We're now able to report that Tim Ballard's departure from Operation Underground Railroad followed a sexual misconduct investigation. This news was first broken by Utah journalist Lynn Packer. vice.com/en/article/pka… From our piece: "Sources familiar with the situation said that the self-styled anti-slavery activist... invited women to act as his “wife” on undercover overseas missions ostensibly aimed at rescuing victims of sex trafficking."

The Ohio State Medical Board just approved the indefinite suspension Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's medical license, an osteopathic physician and longtime figure in the anti-vaccine movement. The board got around 350 complaints into her behavior, but that's not why she's being suspended. Since 2021, the medical board has been asking to interview her as part of an investigation, the details of which are confidential. Tenpenny told the board that she did not believe they have “a lawful basis for the investigative office conference” and said she wouldn’t participate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "health" panel tonight, which features a welter of anti-vaccine and medical freedom activists, is proceeding apace even though the candidate has not yet shown up. I will try not to live tweet this but I make no promises whatsoever

It is, and I cannot stress this enough, the 17th day of the Sandy Hook families' defamation trial against Alex Jones and Infowars in Connecticut. Jury's still deliberating and we're still waiting on a verdict. I'm taking up this thread again as @NYTLiz is reporting that the jury has reached a verdict and will emerge at 3:30 PM to leap off the top rope onto Alex Jones neck and-- sorry

Exclusive: we obtained unaired footage from Tucker Carlson's interview with Ye, in which the artist makes numerous inflammatory comments about Jews and describes a bizarre claim that "fake children" were planted in his home to manipulate his own kids. vice.com/en/article/3ad… Carlson and Ye together outlined some of Fox's favorite boogeymen: the Clintons, COVID restrictions, cancel culture, the liberal elites; but what Fox left on the cutting room floor is just as revealing.

It's day 11 of Alex Jones and Infowars' second defamation trial in Connecticut. There's simply no denying that it's day 11. The sidebar discussion is about how to make the jury charge shorter, which is going to be a whole nother fucking thing

It's day ten of Alex Jones and Infowars' second defamation trial, in Connecticut. I'm going to be tweeting less today so I can do other parts of my job. But I will let you know if something significant and/or very stupid happens! We have reached docket number 1,000 in this case. Lol. Lmao. God help us.

It's day nine of Alex Jones and Infowars' second defamation trial. Yes! It is still happening! I may not be able to live tweet all day due to needing to do other parts of my job! Also follow @NYTLiz, @SebastianMurdoc and @MoString for updates. As a reminder please mute me immediately and never unmute me, both because I'm covering this and just generally

Good morning. It's day eight of the second defamation trial against Alex Jones and Infowars in Connecticut. He's set to take the stand again today. The Sandy Hook plaintiffs managed to make it through their difficult testimony without having a meltdown, yelling at an attorney, shilling Brain Force Plus, asking for crypto donations or mocking court proceedings, something Alex Jones couldn't quite do vice.com/en/article/ake…

It's day seven in Alex Jones' second defamation trial in Connecticut. Jones is set to take the stand at some point today. Here's his lawyer, predicting the outcome:

https://twitter.com/PattisNorm/status/1572901339285573633

I’m watching on the livestream; @NYTLiz is in the courtroom, so follow her.

https://twitter.com/nytliz/status/1572949180494004224?s=21&t=DyoTERuR5PLJsJftDsqUYQ

It’s day six (??) of Alex Jones’ second damages trial in Connecticut and it sounds like the big red man himself may take the stand this afternoon. That should be normal Yesterday a bankruptcy judge in TX dismissed an attorney and chief restructuring officer for Free Speech Systems, citing Funny Business nytimes.com/2022/09/20/us/…

Lol holy shit

https://twitter.com/nytliz/status/1572378741686562817

I just tuned into this hearing and the judge sounds... legitimately upset. "I do think there was a lack of candor" he says, in both the previous Infowars aborted bankruptcy and this one.

Jump scare warning for this lead photo; I wrote about Alex Jones monetizing his second (second of three!) defamation trial. vice.com/en/article/ake… As we wind down for the day, Pattis is cross-examining Watts, the expert witness, seemingly by having him confirm his long list of credentials, articles, bona fides, guest appointments and media appearances. Bold strategy!

It's day five of Alex Jones and Infowars' second damages trial, in Connecticut. Right now the network that's livestreaming the trial is broadcasting Norm Pattis, Jones' attorney, standing on the sidewalk looking somewhat anxiously down the street: I don't know if the big red man himself is supposed to be in court today but the sidewalk streaming indicates maybe so

We’ve known for a long time that the IRA routinely tries to capitalize on wedge issues and I’m not disputing that it’s newsworthy that they did so here. But! nytimes.com/2022/09/18/us/… I think this framing under-emphasizes the extent to which Sarsour was already being demonized on the right, and it lets the Times itself off the hook, namely one Bari Weiss, who leapt into this one with both feet

Day 2 of Alex Jones and Infowars' second defamation trial, in Connecticut, should begin in a few minutes. I will be blogging and livetweeting and questioning my life choices. Please mute this thread because I cannot. Yesterday we heard from FBI Agent Bill Aldenberg and Carlee Soto Parisi, the sister of slain teacher Vicki Soto, both of whom were deeply affected by both the shooting and the decade of lies about them, personally, that followed.

Testimony in Alex Jones’ Connecticut damages trial is scheduled to start today, which means, of course, I am emitting an endless silent scream, and also doing a live tweet The court's stream isn't up yet, so I'm watching here (Law and Crime)

Another round of pre-trial motions in Alex Jones' and Infowars next defamation trial in Connecticut. Will I live-tweet in this space or just release a long primal scream? Let's find out! So far this is proceeding as though it is a normal trial with discussions about jurors asking to be excused from service, talking about how long the trial will take, let's see how quickly this gets weird!

New from me and @timmarchman: We followed a really bizarre, distressing digital trail in the case of two women charged with shooting a college student in the woods of Alabama. We found they both got
involved in esoteric conspiracy theories and paranoia. vice.com/en/article/pkg… @timmarchman Yasmine Hider was a college student in Oklahoma in 2020; perusing her TikTok and Instagram accounts and other digital and court recors shows a progression into increasingly esoteric beliefs and what looks like an intinerant lifestyle.

Reynal reminds the jury that the case is not USA vs. Alex Jones. the money is for Heslin and Lewis. Not for "the people of Sandy Hook" or the United States. Reynal is telling the jury "You have to be true to yourself, each one of you, in making this decision"