FCC Shuts Down Alex Jones’ Flagship Pirate Radio Station For Operating Illegally

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed down conspiracy theorist​ Alex Jones’s flagship radio station Wednesday after a lawsuit filed in federal court in Austin, Texas, alleged it was operated without a license since at least 2013.

The commission has also imposed a $15,000 fine on the station’s operators, however, according to a lawsuit filed by the FCC, the operators refused to pay the fine.

The Department of Justice filed a suit against the station’s operators, Walter and Rae Olenick, on Friday alleging them of operating an unlicensed radio station out of their Austin apartment complex since 2013. According to the court records, the FCC tracked the transmissions to the apartment owned by the defendants in the case.

The commission had also sent them several letters warning them of harsh consequences of broadcasting without a license. These warnings included seizure of equipment, fines and even criminal sanctions.

Deadline reported that the couple said the agency lacked jurisdiction and asked them to “kindly never bother us with your harassment … again.”

Jones has faced several troubles in the recent months. On Tuesday, Twitter suspended him from posting to its platform for a week for reportedly inciting violence. He tweeted a link to a video and told his supporters to get their “battle rifles” ready against media.

The suspension prevents him from tweeting or retweeting, however, his previous tweets remain viewable to people.

"I feel any suspension, whether it be a permanent or a temporary one, makes someone think about their actions and their behaviors,” Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said, USA Today reported.

The Twitter handle of InfoWars, a media platform owned by Jones which hosts content that promotes conspiracy theories and often, fake news, was also suspended. Apple's iTunes, Facebook and YouTube also removed his podcasts and content last week.

Other websites that have taken similar action against him in the past include LinkedIn, Pinterest, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn.

The radio host was also widely criticized in the past for his repeated claims that the 9/11 attacks were staged by the U.S. government.

A defamation lawsuit was filed against an Infowars program by parents of two children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre for claiming the incident was hoax and the children were actors. According to the lawsuit, he had made "false, cruel, and dangerous assertions" in the program.

Jones earned the vocal admiration of President Donald Trump who promoted a number of theories advanced by him including allegations that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election. During a radio interview in 2015, the mutual regard between the two became obvious when Trump said “Your reputation is amazing,” and Jones responded, “What you’re doing is epic. It’s George Washington level.” Post the elections, Trump reportedly called him and thanked the Infowars audience for their support. He also promised to make them proud, ADL reported.