A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday blocked a settlement between families who have sued Alex Jones over his false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, saying their attempt to divide the bankrupt conspiracy theorist's assets exceeded his court’s authority.

The judge overseeing Alex Jones’s bankruptcy case suspended the sale of his conspiracy website Infowars, ending a monthslong effort to find a buyer.

The judge also shut down the future sale of Infowars' assets, leaving the trustee authorized to sell only the company’s equity.

Along with the denying the proposed deal, a federal judge also told the Chapter 7 trustee that he's no longer authorized to sell Infowars' assets.

The decision complicates a proposed sale of Jones’ Infowars platform, and could spur divisions between families who sued Jones and won nearly $1.3 billion in Connecticut court cases and

This is masterful, creative lawyering, but at its core it is something I can’t approve,” federal Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said in his Texas courtroom