CNN Ordered to Pay $5 Million for Defaming Zachary Young

A Florida jury found CNN liable for defaming Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran and security consultant, by portraying him as an illegal profiteer in a 2021 report about Afghan evacuees. The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages, citing the network's reckless disregard for the truth and the harmful impact the report had on his reputation and business. Young's lawsuit claimed that CNN's coverage falsely suggested he was exploiting desperate Afghans, despite his assertion that he was providing legitimate services. Internal communications revealed that CNN staff expressed doubts about the accuracy of the report and showed a lack of regard for Young, referring to him in derogatory terms. The trial underscored issues of media accountability and the potential chilling effects of defamation lawsuits on journalistic practices. A separate proceeding will determine punitive damages against CNN.