CNN defamation trial over Afghanistan report kicks off in Florida

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (CN) — Navy veteran Zachary Young said Tuesday that CNN defamed him when the major news network painted him as an “illegal profiteer” and implicated him “black market” evacuations in its story on the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The world braced for the Taliban’s return, but CNN sitting at their desks in D.C., wanted to tell America a more sensational story,” Kyle Roche, one of Young’s attorneys, told six Florida jurors and two alternates in his opening arguments, calling the story a “hit piece.”

Young, a U.S. Navy veteran and security consultant, sued the network over a story aired on Nov. 11, 2021, describing the woes of Afghans trying to flee their country during the United States’ hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. The segment — reported by CNN national security correspondent Alex Marquardt and appeared during “The Lead with Jake Tapper” — included interviews with Afghans claiming some private contractors were charging up to $14,000 for “black market” evacuations.

Young was the only private contractor named in the story, prompting his lawsuit accusing the network of ruining his reputation and business, Nemex Enterprises. The suit wound its way through the court system before this week’s trial in Bay County, a staunchly conservative area in Florida’s panhandle.

Young says he never accepted money from individual Afghans and instead relied on sponsorships from corporations like Audible and Bloomberg to help rescue those fleeing the war-torn country. Judge William Henry of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida previously ruled that there is no proof Young committed any illegal acts.

Though CNN later issued an on-air apology over the use of “black market” in the story, Young’s attorneys point to private messages between CNN reporters and editors that used expletives to describe Young, including one that said he had a “punchable face.”

“CNN took pleasure in casting Zach as a villain,” Roche said. “Overnight, he went from patriot to criminal and his career as a private intelligence and security consultant has not recovered. CNN’s reckless journalism stole Zach’s income and reputation.”

Roche also told jurors that the case is larger than just Young.

“You are going to have an opportunity to send a message to mainstream media,” he said. “You are going to have an opportunity to change an industry.”

If the jury finds that CNN acted with malice, and not just negligence, the network could face millions in punitive damages.

CNN’s attorney David Axelrod told jurors that the network was “tough, but they were fair and accurate.”

“Every word you are going to see from CNN’s reporters was true and was accurate,” he said. “There is no evidence in this case that there was anything sensational in the story.”

The jury later heard from Young himself, dressed in a black suit with a red tie and sporting a military haircut

“[The story] had a very immediate and devastating impact on my life,” Young said. “It’s devastating when you’re labeled a criminal all over the world for someone like me. We refer to ourselves as quiet professionals. Discretion is everything.”

“I’ve never been Googled before this,” he added.

Through questioning, Young’s other attorney, Devin Freedman, painted Young as a hopeful Navy Seal, who suffered a major injury during a training exercise, and after honorably discharged, found other ways to serve his country through stints at security contractor firms. Young’s experience and contacts led to corporations asking for his help in rescuing Afghans during the U.S. withdrawal.

“What I’m doing is specifically for corporations and sponsors, because things cost money,” Young said. “There’s no such thing as a free extraction.”

Young’s testimony resumes on Wednesday. The trial is expected to take two weeks.

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