CNN must pay $5 million for defamation of Navy veteran during Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan

A Florida jury on Friday found CNN liable for defaming a Marine veteran who helped evacuate people from Afghanistan after the US military withdrew from the country in 2021.

The six-person jury ordered CNN to pay $5 million in damages. There will be a second phase of the trial to determine any punitive damages. The ruling followed a two-week trial in state court in Panama City, Fla..

Plaintiff Zachary Young sued CNN in 2022, accusing the Warner Bros. Discovery unit of defaming him in a segment on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” by calling him a profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans by charging exorbitant fees.

CNN stood by its story and denied defaming Young, although the network said in March 2022 that it regretted using the term “black market” to describe Young’s work.

CNN stood by its story and denied defaming Young, although the network said in March 2022 that it regretted using the term “black market” to describe Young’s work.

The case stems from Young’s work as a security consultant helping corporations and charities get people out of Afghanistan after the Taliban quickly regained control after the chaotic US withdrawal.

In a segment on The Lead, CNN said that “desperate Afghans” trying to flee the country were being “exploited” by “exorbitant” and “impossible” fees charged for evacuations.

The segment focused on Young, featuring his name and photo next to a chiron saying evacuees faced a dangerous “black market.”

“The sum and substance of the segment states and implies that Young marketed evacuations directly to Afghan nationals, that he exploited Afghan nationals, and that he sold them illegal goods/services on a black market,” Young said in his lawsuit.

Young’s lawyers said CNN’s characterization of his work as illegal or exploitative was false and that he repeatedly told the network he only worked with corporations and non-governmental groups trying to get their people out. The high prices were due to high demand, Young said.