CNN found guilty of defaming US Navy veterans who evacuated Afghans for a fee | Media news
The prosecutor accused CNN of tarnishing his reputation by branding him a profiteer exploiting desperate Afghans.
A jury in Florida has found TV news provider CNN liable for defamation of a US Navy veteran who helped evacuate people from Afghanistan after the US military withdrew from the country in 2021.
A six-judge jury said Friday that CNN must pay damages totaling $5 million. A second phase of the trial will follow to determine possible punitive damages. The verdict followed a two-week trial in Panama City, Florida, state court.
A representative for CNN said the network would not comment until a jury decides on punitive damages.
Plaintiff Zachary Young sued CNN in 2022, accusing the Warner Bros. Discovery unit of defaming him in “The Lead with Jake Tapper” segment by branding 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.
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 following a chaotic US withdrawal.
In a segment on The Lead, CNN said “desperate Afghans” trying to flee the country were being “exploited” with “exorbitant” and “impossible” evacuation fees.
The segment focused on Young, showing his name and photo next to a chyron saying the evacuees were facing a dangerous “black market”.
“The summary and content of the segment alleges and implies that Young advertised evacuations directly to Afghan citizens, exploited Afghan citizens, and sold them illegal goods/services on the 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 had repeatedly told the network that 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.
Young said the CNN segment destroyed his reputation and career, causing him depression and panic attacks and depriving him of millions of dollars in income.
It was an unusual conviction against a media company in a defamation case. Defamation laws generally protect news outlets, and plaintiffs must meet high standards to prove defamation.
To win the case, Young had to prove that CNN knew or should have known that his reporting was false but published it anyway. He also sought punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendants, and required Young to prove that CNN intended to harm him.
The case went to trial after a judge rejected CNN’s bid to dismiss the case and allowed Young to seek punitive as well as compensatory damages, a decision upheld by an appeals court.
