{"id":2391977,"date":"2025-01-17T21:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T02:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-ordered-to-pay-navy-veteran-after-losing-big-defamation-case\/"},"modified":"2025-01-17T21:34:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T02:34:02","slug":"cnn-ordered-to-pay-navy-veteran-after-losing-big-defamation-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-ordered-to-pay-navy-veteran-after-losing-big-defamation-case\/","title":{"rendered":"CNN Ordered to Pay Navy Veteran After Losing Big Defamation Case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcnn-ordered-to-pay-navy-veteran-after-losing-big-defamation-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2391977&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A\u200b Florida jury has ruled that \u2063CNN defamed \u2063Zachary Young, a Navy veteran and security consultant, by\u2064 labeling him an &#8220;illegal\u200b profiteer&#8221; during a\u2062 report on Afghan evacuees following the \u2064U.S. withdrawal in 2021.The jury awarded Young $5 \u200dmillion in damages, comprising $4 million for \u200clost business\u2064 and \u2064$1 million for personal damages. The \u200bcase \u200bstemmed from a November \u20632021 segment where CNN&#8217;s Alex Marquardt claimed Young \u2064was exploiting desperate Afghans \u200bfor profit. Despite Young&#8217;s legal team presenting evidence that contradicted CNN&#8217;s \u200dclaims, Marquardt defended his \u200breporting by stating he\u200c was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-to-investigate-gamestop-stock-surge\/\" title=\"White House to investigate GameStop stock surge\">investigating potential wrongdoing<\/a> but found no \u2064evidence of illegal activities \u200don Young\u2019s part. An \u2062undisclosed settlement was reached regarding\u200d punitive damages after the jury&#8217;s verdict, indicating further liability for CNN.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Florida jury on Friday found CNN guilty of defaming a Navy veteran who helped Afghans flee their country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Zachary Young, who is a security consultant, sued the network alleging CNN &ldquo;destroyed his reputation and business&rdquo; by branding him an &ldquo;illegal profiteer&rdquo; who exploited &ldquo;desperate Afghans&rdquo; during a Nov. 11, 2021, report by the network&rsquo;s senior national security correspondent Alex Marquardt on CNN&rsquo;s &ldquo;The Lead with Jake Tapper,&rdquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/jury-finds-that-cnn-committed-defamation-against-navy-veteran-awards-punitive-damages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Fox News<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p>The Panama City jury awarded Young $5 million in damages, including $4 million in lost business and $1 million in personal damages.<\/p>\n<p>The jury was also set to decide what punitive damages <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/desperate-cnn-set-undergo-significant-programming-overhaul-big-names-impacted\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a> should also pay, but Fox reported that an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/woman-at-center-of-2006-duke-lacrosse-rape-case-admits-entire-story-was-a-fabrication\/\" title=\"Woman at Center of 2006 Duke Lacrosse Rape Case Admits Entire Story Was a Fabrication\">undisclosed settlement amount<\/a> was reached following the jury verdict.<\/p>\n<p>An expert witness had testified at trial that $150 million would be appropriate.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">NEW: CNN found liable for $5 million in defamation trial against a United States Navy veteran.<\/p>\n<p>Zachary Young said CNN defamed him as an &ldquo;illegal profiteer&rdquo; when they said he charged Afghan evacuees thousands of dollars to leave the country.<\/p>\n<p>The report was first d on Jake&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/B0dTZAorxV\">pic.twitter.com\/B0dTZAorxV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CollinRugg\/status\/1880323690828820612?\">January 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Punitive damages are awarded in addition to actual damages in certain circumstances. Punitive damages are considered punishment and are typically awarded at the court&rsquo;s discretion when the defendant&rsquo;s behavior is found to be especially harmful,&rdquo; Cornell Law School&rsquo;s Legal Information Institute <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/wex\/punitive_damages#:~:text=Punitive%20damages%20are%20awarded%20in,found%20to%20be%20especially%20harmful.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">explained<\/a> on its website.<\/p>\n<p>Tapper introduced the 2021 segment, which included him&nbsp;saying, &ldquo;Afghans trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success,&rdquo; according to Fox.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cnns-jake-tapper-accused-lying-sworn-deposition-x-posts-get-turned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tapper<\/a> then turned to Marquardt, who confirmed that &ldquo;desperate Afghans are being exploited&rdquo; and need to pay &ldquo;exorbitant, often impossible amounts&rdquo; to flee the country.<\/p>\n<p>Through pre-trial discovery, Young&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">legal team obtained<\/a> a text message from Marquardt to a CNN co-worker saying, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re gonna nail this Zachary Young mf****er,&rdquo; which was often cited throughout the trial.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0w-rguc2YSg?si=jcaFi7IkAfIr3O9S\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>However, Marquardt testified Monday at trial, &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t going after him. I never was going after him,&rdquo; though he acknowledged the text above was his.<\/p>\n<p>ABC affiliate WMBB reported that Marquardt also conceded at trial that Young &ldquo;did not act criminally&rdquo; and that the veteran &ldquo;never took money directly from Afghans&rdquo; in the work he was doing in the country.<\/p>\n<p>In his 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cnn-panel-gets-uncomfortable-pundit-tells-like-bidens-legacy-forever-tied-victorious-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a> segment, Marquardt reported, &ldquo;In a text message, [Young] told CNN that Afghans trying to leave are expected to have sponsors pay for them,&rdquo; and that Young told the network evacuation costs are &ldquo;highly volatile and based on environmental realities,&rdquo; according to Fox.<\/p>\n<p>A picture of Young appeared as Marquardt recounted in his story that the veteran&rsquo;s company was asking $75,000 to get a vehicle of passengers out of Afghanistan to Pakistan or $14,500 per person to get them all to the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<p>Marquardt defended his reporting at trial saying that he was looking into whether Young illegally profited or committed fraud or extortion but did not find any evidence of it and therefore did not report it.<\/p>\n<p>Fox pointed out that Young testified at trial that he rescued at least 22 Afghan women, but CNN never reported that about his work.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Zachary Young, a security consultant, filed a lawsuit claiming CNN &#8220;ruined his reputation and business&#8221; by labeling him an &#8220;illegal profiteer&#8221; taking advantage of &#8220;desperate Afghans&#8221; in a report aired on November 11, 2021. The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages\u2014$4 million for lost business and $1 million for personal harm. Although the jury was to determine additional punitive damages, an undisclosed settlement was reached after the verdict. An expert witness suggested that punitive damages could be around $150 million<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2391978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/CNN.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[9373,9142,48110],"class_list":["post-2391977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cnn","tag-defamation","tag-navy-veteran"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/CNN.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2391977"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2391981,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391977\/revisions\/2391981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2391978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2391977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2391977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2391977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}