Notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones told investigators from the January 6 committee that he was “too stressed out” to spell his name for them, before eventually spelling his middle name incorrectly.
Jones, who was one of former President Donald Trump’s loudest mouthpieces in the days leading up the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt, used his Fifth Amendment right to virtually every question asked by investigators. The Fifth Amendment allows a person to refuse to answer a question on the grounds the answer may be used against them in a criminal prosecution.
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From the very start of Jones’ deposition on Jan. 24, 2022, the man best known for mocking the parents of the 20 children killed in Sandy Hook massacre appeared antagonistic with investigators.
“Could you please spell your middle name for the record?” an investigator (names are blacked out in the official transcripts) asked after noting it was assumed Alexander Jones would be spelled in the traditional manner. Jones’ middle name is Emerick.
“You guys know what my name is. It’s on the record,” Jones replied.
“I’m just asking for the court reporter,” the investigator said.
“E-M…I’m so stressed out, I can’t even spell it for you, so,” Jones answered.
At this point, according to the transcript, Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, entered the chat.
“E-M-E-R-I-C,” Pattis said, forgetting the K in Emerick.
“That’s right,” Jones replied. “E-M-E-R-I-C.”
The rest of the deposition did not fare much better for Jones, who recently applied for bankruptcy protection after a jury found he defamed the Sandy Hook families and said he should pay them $965 million, plus another $473 million in punitive damages.
Investigators explained to Jones what the Fifth Amendment is used for and questioned why he was using it if he repeatedly said on his Infowars shows that he did nothing criminal in relation to January 6. They asked if he understood the Fifth Amendment.
He asserted his Fifth Amendment right to that question.
Jones continually did so throughout the deposition, although he did have one very testy exchange where he accused Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff, a member of the January 6 committee, of forging evidence.
When asked about a series of exhibits connecting him to Roger Stone, a key ally of Trump who played a major role in the event of Jan. 6, Jones said he was not answering questions on the topic because “Adam Schiff forges documents.”
Pattis tried to calm Jones down, but his client kept going.
“I don’t trust Congressman Schiff. He’ll forge stuff,” Jones said, repeating his baseless allegation.
“Mr. Jones,” Pattis said. (The transcript unfortunately does not convey the tone of the words being spoken.)
“Sorry,” Jones said. “I want to tell you guys everything, but I don’t trust Congressman Schiff.”
“Alex, may we have a moment, please,” his lawyer pleads.
“I don’t know how to control this stuff. It’s a different system than I have,” Jones responds.
Investigators then recommended Pattis stop his video (he was calling in remotely) and that Jones and he have an off-the-record phone call, which they do.
Upon returning, Pattis explains that Jones thinks the entire January 6 commission process is partisan and he has no confidence in it.
After this point in the deposition, Jones asserts the Fifth from there out to virtually all questions, including who paid for his hotel in Washington, whether he used Proud Boys or Oath Keepers as security there, and where he got his information that President Trump would be going to the Capitol.