CNN’s Fate in Defamation Case Now in Hands of Jury
A high-stakes defamation trial pits CNN against Navy veteran Zachary Young, who is seeking damages from the network over a November 2021 report. The report, presented by chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt, alleged that bad actors were running a black market and charging exorbitant fees to Afghans attempting to flee their country after the Taliban retook control.
Young’s team alleges that the report contained “lies” about his business, stating that it has devastated his career and caused him to suffer millions of dollars in lost income. Internal CNN communications, revealed during the discovery process, suggest that some employees believed the report was “a mess,” “incomplete,” and “full of holes.” Others showed that Marquardt was critical of Young, calling him a “punchable face.”
In his closing statement, Young’s attorney, Devin Freedman, accused CNN of waging a “calculated attack” that has caused Young profound emotional and psychological pain. He urged the jury to consider the harm inflicted on Young, saying it “pierces the soul of who he is, who he was.”
CNN’s lawyer, David Axelrod, countered that the operative question is whether the network is facing a “conspiracy” or individuals trying to do their best. The jury’s decision will determine whether CNN can be held legally liable for defaming Young.
