A Florida jury in the United States found CNN liable for defaming a Navy veteran, Zachary Young, who played a key role in evacuating individuals from Afghanistan following President Biden’s controversial withdrawal from the country.
The jury’s decision, made on Friday, followed a two-week trial in Panama City state court, where Young sued CNN for damaging his reputation in a segment aired on The Lead with Jake Tapper.
The jury deliberated for under nine hours before awarding Young $5 million in damages.
Punitive damages were also being considered, but CNN reached an undisclosed settlement before a second phase of the trial could begin.
Legal expert Louis G. Adolfsen, who specializes in defamation cases, speculated that the settlement could be as high as $25 million due to the likely hostility of the jury pool in the semi-rural area.
Young’s lawsuit stemmed from a 2022 report that accused him of involvement in a “black market” smuggling operation that exploited Afghans seeking to escape the Taliban.
He argued that the story, which showed his face on screen, led to severe personal and professional consequences, including depression, panic attacks, and millions in lost potential income.
Young maintained that his business aimed at helping wealthy clients, not individuals who were charged up to $10,000 for evacuation services.
While CNN acknowledged that the phrase “black market” was inaccurate, the network stood by its reporting, which claimed that Afghans were being “exploited” by exorbitant fees.
During the trial, Young’s attorneys emphasized the importance of sending a message to the media, noting that some jurors appeared critical of CNN’s portrayal of their client, with one question raised about whether Young was treated as guilty until proven innocent.
Private messages introduced at the trial revealed that CNN’s reporter, Alex Marquardt, had made unflattering and profane comments about Young, although Marquardt testified that the story was not intended as a smear.
Following the verdict, CNN released a statement affirming its commitment to fair and fearless reporting but acknowledged that it would “take what useful lessons we can from this case.”
Defamation lawsuits are relatively rare in the U.S. due to strong First Amendment protections for the press, making libel cases challenging to prove.
In another high-profile case, ABC News chose to settle a defamation suit filed by former President Donald Trump by agreeing to pay $15 million toward his presidential library and covering $1 million in legal fees, opting to avoid a lengthy legal battle.
