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PANAMA CITY, FL – After more than eight hours of deliberation, a jury concluded that CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, holding the network accountable for punitive damages.
Young claimed that CNN damaged his reputation by suggesting he was making illegal profits by aiding people to escape Afghanistan during the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal. In a November 11, 2021, segment on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," Young was depicted as an "illegal profiteer" who exploited "desperate Afghans."
The lawsuit spanned over three years, culminating in an intense eight-day trial in Bay County, Florida, under Judge William S. Henry. The judge had previously determined that Young's actions were not illegal or criminal, contrary to CNN's broadcast.
Jake Tapper introduced the segment by cautioning viewers about "desperate Afghans still trying to escape the country being preyed on by folks demanding that they pay up big time to get out." He later reiterated the exploitation theme, highlighting the segment where reporter Alex Marquardt detailed the "black market" for evacuation.
Marquardt focused on Young, showing his image and stating his company was charging exorbitant fees for evacuation services, like $75,000 to transport a vehicle to Pakistan or $14,500 per person to the UAE. He noted these prices were "well beyond the reach of most Afghans."
CNN showed Marquardt allegedly calling Young, who didn't answer, and reported on texts where Young explained that evacuation costs were "highly volatile and based on environmental realities." Marquardt accused Young of not clarifying his profit margins, despite Young's acknowledgment of market dynamics.
The trial dissected these segments, with CNN's lawyers arguing Young wasn't central to the story, while Young's legal team argued the "black market" label was career-ruining, especially since it could lead to termination under his contract terms.
Evidence included internal CNN messages where staff expressed hostility toward Young, with terms like "s--tbag" and "a--hole" used, and Marquardt's own message about "nailing" Young. Senior national security editor Thomas Lumley, despite his doubts about the report's integrity, was called to testify.
Young, emotional during his testimony, spoke about the impact on his personal life and his efforts in rescuing 22 women from Afghanistan, which CNN did not cover.
CNN issued an apology on March 25, 2022, but internal sentiments suggested it was more for legal reasons than genuine regret. The trial also saw Judge Henry reprimanding CNN's lead counsel, David Axelrod, for wrongly branding Young a "liar" concerning his employment status post-segment.
