CNN Heads to Court for High-Stakes Defamation Trial Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Story
CNN is set to face off in a high-stakes defamation trial on Monday, with U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young alleging that the network smeared him by implying he illegally profited from helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from the country in 2021.
Young believes CNN “destroyed his reputation and business” by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited “desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021, segment on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” The segment, which was aired on several occasions, featured correspondent Alex Marquardt reporting on Young’s company, which was offering evacuation services to Afghans.
Young’s legal team argues that CNN’s use of the terms “black market,” “exploit,” and “exorbitant” inaccurately painted him as a bad actor preying on desperate people. CNN has issued an on-air apology for the segment, but Judge William S. Henry has ruled that the apology was insufficient, as Florida law requires retractions of defamatory material to attempt to mirror how the content was originally distributed.
The trial is expected to be closely watched, with CNN facing potential financial penalties if it is found liable for defamation. Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company, has been ordered to hand over a bevy of financial information to determine appropriate punitive damages if Young is victorious.
The case has already seen several pre-trial losses for CNN, with Judge Henry ruling that Young “did not act illegally or criminally” and that he “did not take money from Afghans.” The judge has also declared that the court found Young did not violate the Taliban’s Sharia law.
Jury selection is set to begin on Monday, with Young expected to be the first witness called. The trial will be streamed live once jury selection concludes.
