A jury found that CNN committed defamation against U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young and is responsible for punitive damages on Friday. They only deliberated for eight hours.
He sued for $1 billion.
Young said that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from the country in 2021.
Young stated that CNN “destroyed his reputation and business” by branding him an illegal profiteer” who exploited “desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021, segment that first aired on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”
The decision comes after three-plus years of litigation and a wild, sometimes chaotic, eight-day trial.
Evidence included messages from CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt saying he wanted to “nail this Zachary Young mfucker.”
14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry, who presided over the trial in Bay County, Florida, previously ruled that Young “did not act illegally or criminally” despite what the network reported on air.
Tapper and everyone connected with the story should be fired.
The Case
The case hinged on CNN’s use of the phrases “black market” and “exploited” to describe Young’s legitimate business helping corporately sponsored Afghans escape the country as it collapsed around them and the Taliban retook control. Young’s clients included Audible and Bloomberg News – one of CNN’s industry peers, and he saved 24 people.
This is Jake Tapper doing what he did and always does – reports irresponsibly:
CNN had a poor case:
The lead attorney for U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young felt like he was “in Alice in Wonderland” during a defamation lawsuit. Young sued CNN in June 2022 claiming in his lawsuit that the segment on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” defamed him and his Afghan transportation business. pic.twitter.com/IbdXVV9pls
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 9, 2025
You can comment on the article after the ads and subscribe to the Daily Newsletter here if you would like a quick view of the articles of the day and any late news:
This story needs investigated; but Investigative Journalism is Dead.
Transferring people ( Human Trafficking) is “highly suspicious” and Illegal; so, it would warrant FULL Investigation. How many illegals came here? The US army blew up their Homes in Afghanistan, for MIC profit, then transferred them here? DANGER! And, you want to give this guy 5-million dollars; because CNN drew attention to the Issue? That
s their Job!So, they made suppositions? Thats also their Job! How is it slander? He should clear his name and deliniate everything he did so that the story would be fully understood rather than hiding behind nefarous government/military operations! I had a Top Secret US government clearance, (naturally, I took a Pee on it) MUCH higher than this guy, and government did evil things to me. They even Cheated my Pay! How Stupid they are Indeed! I deserve more than 5-million dollars by evidence of this account. I am really laughing! Wow! If only you people knew! Think … Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ending! So, I am not wrong by any means in my monetary calculations! My Story is Much better! Much, Much More Interesting, especially to ,Germany, and other Nations!
And, do any of you think about all the slander you write on here? What if someone decideds to sue? You all gave up the Constitution for Offense, Remember? So … I think the more important story is why was CNN sued? Was it a Shut Up Government Lawsuit? Perhaps, he was trafficking terrorists to plant them in the US, for government to use, when they need to open up a new office ,DHS , or hook you into demanding more Government? My theory is Logical. And, I never thought things would get this bad, however, I am seeing how totally without morality government has become.
Hopefully we are beginning to see the return of justice.