CNN Faces Billion Dollar Defamation Trial As Navy Veteran Testifies

CNN is in hot water as Navy veteran Zachary Young testifies in his $1 billion defamation lawsuit against the network. Young, who assisted in evacuating Afghans following President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, says CNN falsely portrayed him as a profiteer who exploited desperate refugees.

The lawsuit targets a November 11, 2021, segment on "The Lead" with Jake Tapper, which included a report by Alex Marquardt. According to 14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry, who is presiding over the trial in Florida, CNN’s claims were baseless. The judge has already ruled that Young “did not act illegally or criminally” and “did not take money from Afghans.”

Young’s attorneys argue that CNN knowingly aired false and misleading information in a sensationalized report that destroyed his business and reputation. Key points from the case include:

• CNN framed Young as a “black market” profiteer, despite zero evidence of wrongdoing.

• Internal CNN messages show editors admitting the story was “full of holes like Swiss cheese.”

• Young was given just two hours to respond to CNN’s claims before the report aired.

• The segment relied on anonymous sources, whom Young says he never even contacted.

The most damning evidence? Internal messages from CNN staff admitting the report was “80 percent emotion and 20 percent obscured fact.”

Since CNN’s report aired, Young says he has suffered mental health struggles, panic attacks, and an inability to work. He described being targeted online when trying to help with evacuations in Sudan, saying his posts were flooded with CNN-inspired hate.

During cross-examination, CNN attorney David Axelrod attempted to downplay Young’s suffering by pointing to an old resume where Young listed “dealing with stress” as a skill. Critics see this as a desperate attempt to discredit a veteran whose life was upended by a reckless media smear.

This case is yet another example of mainstream media prioritizing ratings over truth. CNN’s willingness to air a story riddled with “holes” and emotional manipulation even after warnings from its own staff raises serious questions about the network’s credibility.

The trial is ongoing, but one thing is clear: CNN’s reputation is on the line, and this case could set a precedent for holding media outlets accountable for deliberate defamation.

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