CNN has been found guilty of defaming U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young during a segment it ran in 2021 and a jury awarded the man $4 million in economic damages and one million in emotional damages.
The verdict also included a ruling that CNN can be subject to punitive damages, but that amount has yet not been set.
The jury verdict was read on Friday morning in Florida’s 14th Circuit Court in Bay County.
BREAKING 🚨 A Jury just now found CNN liable for Defaming U.S. Navy Veteran who helped with Afghanistan evacuation
CNN should be sued into bankruptcy by everyone pic.twitter.com/FtK4I0tPsh
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 17, 2025
The story CNN ran in 2021 was a follow up to Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and concerned Afghan nationals who had helped the U.S. and who were desperately trying to find ways to leave their home country ahead of Biden’s horrid decision to hand Afghanistan back to the terrorists running the Taliban.
In its report, CNN accused Zachary Young of exploiting Afghans and defrauding them of thousands of dollars to exit the country. CNN openly stated that Young ran a black market human smuggling operation that charged Afghan nationals huge sums of money to transport them out of Afghanistan and to safety.
The segment in question was hosted by now convicted liar Jake Tapper who introduced the story like this: “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.”
In the report, CNN named Young and during the trial internal communications were revealed that showed the CNN reporters admitted that they were out to get Young. In particular, CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt was seen in one communication saying he wanted to “nail this Zachary Young mfucker,” and insisted that his report would be Young’s “funeral.”
CNN did try to “apologize” months after their initial report when its accusations about Young were disproven. But, it was too little too late by then.
So, what we can say from now on that Jake Tapper and CNN are convicted liars and defamers.
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