CNN has reached a settlement in a high-profile defamation case involving Navy veteran Zachary Young, who alleged the network falsely portrayed him as exploiting “desperate Afghans” during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The case concluded with a Florida jury awarding Young $5 million in damages, including $4 million for lost earnings and $1 million for personal damages, with punitive damages pending when the settlement was finalized.
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Young claimed that CNN’s November 2021 segment on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” damaged his reputation and business by implying he profited illegally from assisting people fleeing Afghanistan.
He asserted that the report branded him as a profiteer operating on the “black market.”
During the two-week trial, Young’s legal team presented evidence, including internal CNN messages, that painted a troubling picture of the network’s handling of the story.
Messages revealed CNN staff referring to Young in derogatory terms such as “s–tbag” and “a–hole.”
One message from correspondent Alex Marquardt stated, “We’re gonna nail this Zachary Young mf—er,” while another referred to the report as “your funeral bucko.”
CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley, called as a witness, expressed skepticism about the report in internal messages, describing it as “pretty flawed” and “full of holes like Swiss cheese.”
Other CNN employees, including reporter Katie Bo Lillis, admitted they had not considered the potential impact of the segment on Young’s personal and professional life.
The jury’s decision to award damages marked a significant moment in the case.
Before they could determine punitive damages, CNN and Young reached a settlement.
After the case concluded, Young expressed relief, stating, “It’s been a long three years, and to have the outcome that we wanted, which was vindication publicly, is an incredible feeling.”
While the trial gained more attention toward its conclusion, CNN provided minimal coverage of the case.
Its media correspondent, Hadas Gold, wrote a brief report on the verdict, and chief media analyst Brian Stelter mentioned it briefly in a newsletter.
A search of CNN’s broadcasts revealed no on-air coverage of the trial or its outcome.
According to CNN insiders, the case has had a noticeable impact on morale within the network, already struggling with declining ratings and reports of pending layoffs.
One insider said, “Being found liable for defamation and dishonesty is a bad thing.”
Another employee, speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital, suggested the issue stemmed from an overzealous reporter rather than a systemic problem at CNN.
However, another insider described the private messages revealed during discovery as “damning.”
In response to the settlement, CNN issued a statement expressing a commitment to journalistic integrity.
“We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless, and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case,” the network said.
Young, for his part, hopes the case serves as a wake-up call for media organizations.
“I hope that they take this as an opportunity to look in the mirror and realize that, you know, there is room for change and improvement,” he told Fox News Digital.
As mainstream media outlets face increasing scrutiny over their reporting practices, the outcome of Young’s case underscores the importance of accuracy and fairness in journalism.
For CNN, the case represents both a legal defeat and an opportunity to reevaluate its editorial processes.
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