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Florida Jury Orders CNN to Pay $5 Million for Defaming Navy Veteran Over Afghan Report

Jan 17, 2025, 05:23 PM

A Florida jury has found CNN liable for defamation against U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, ordering the network to pay $5 million in damages. The lawsuit centered on a 2021 CNN report that portrayed Young, who helped evacuate people from Afghanistan, as operating an illegal 'black market' operation. The jury determined that CNN's reporting defamed Young by falsely suggesting he was exploiting Afghans during the evacuation. The trial, presided over by Judge William S. Henry, included testimony from CNN figures, including host Jake Tapper and Senior Vice President Adam Levine, who questioned whether Young's reputation had been affected prior to CNN's story. The proceedings were marked by heated exchanges, with Judge Henry scolding CNN's lead counsel, stating, 'Your credibility with me is about none,' and ordering him to apologize to Young for calling him a liar. Punitive damages are yet to be determined.