NBC’s News‘ Megyn Kelly took conservative conspiracy theorist to task.
NBC’s News‘ Megyn Kelly took conservative conspiracy theorist and Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones to task on Sunday, calling his allegations that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings never took place „outrageous.“
Introducing the interview, Kelly said Jones „isn’t going away, “ noting that he now enjoys „millions of listeners and the ear of our current president.“
But Jones downplayed his influence on President Trump, saying he and the 45th president were just „friendly.“
Central to the interview was Jones‘ assertion that the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 schoolchildren and six adults, was faked. In Sunday’s interview, Jones told Kelly, „Listeners and other people are covering this. I didn’t create that story.“
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Asked if he still believes the shootings were a hoax, Jones said, „I tend to believe that children probably did die there, but then you look at all the other evidence on the other side, I could see how other people believe that nobody died there.“
On his site, Jones posted a video „Father’s Day Message to Newtown Families, “ in which he said parents „should never have to bury their own children.“
Calling the shootings a „horrible tragedy, “ Jones offered the parents „my sincere condolences“ and said he wanted to open a dialogue with them as way to combat misrepresentations by mainstream media.
Victims of the massacre have said airing the interview gives Jones a platform for his irresponsible views, which only bring further suffering to the families. Several threatened to sue NBC if the segment aired.
NBC Connecticut last week said it wouldn’t air the interview, following intense public pressure from Sandy Hook families.
Sandy Hook Promise, an anti-gun violence group founded by the victims’ parents, asked Kelly to step down as the host of their upcoming gala.
Jones also lodged complaints about the interview before it aired, on Friday pre-emptively criticizing Kelly and releasing what he said was a recording of their pre-interview phone discussions. In the tapes posted on Jones‘ website, Kelly promised that the interview will not be a “gotcha hit piece.”
“I’m not looking to portray you as some boogeyman, ” Kelly said in the recording, which appeared to have been taped without her knowledge.
NBC News told USA TODAY that despite Jones‘ efforts „to distract from and ultimately prevent the airing of our report, we remain committed to giving viewers context and insight into a controversial and polarizing figure, how he relates to the president of the United States and influences others, and to getting this serious story right.“
During the broadcast, NBC contrasted Jones‘ repeated assertions about Sandy Hook with an interview of Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was one of the victims.
„I lost my son. I buried my son, “ Heslin said. „I held my son with a bullet hole through his head.“
Asked about his role in the 2016 presidential election, Jones downplayed his influence on Trump, saying his influence is „way, way lower“ than how the mainstream media characterizes it. But he declined to say how often he speaks to Trump on the phone, telling Kelly that he and Trump aren’t „friends“ but are „friendly.“
Asked point-blank how many times Trump has called him, Jones said, „I don’t want to get into that.“
Contributing: Jim Michaels, USA TODAY. Follow Greg Toppo on Twitter: @gtoppo
