Navy Vet Zachary Young sues CNN for defamation
You love to see it.
CNN on Friday paid Navy Vet Zachary Young an undisclosed settlement for punitive damages after it was already ordered to pay $5 million in emotional and financial damages.
Zachary Young sued CNN for defamation over a 2021 report on his work helping Afghans during Biden’s botched withdrawal.
The lawsuit against CNN stemmed from their coverage of Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal, which the court previously determined showcased “actual malice, express malice, and a level of conduct outrageous enough” for Plaintiff Zachary Young to seek damages.
Young, who was offering to transport Afghans out of the country to flee the Taliban in 2021, was accused by Tapper and CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt of running a “black market” scheme and exploiting “desperate Afghans” for personal gain while disregarding the dangers and circumstances surrounding the evacuation efforts.
Tapper even maliciously and sarcastically highlighted Young’s use of the word “unfortunately” in a message to the network about the “extremely limited” availability of evacuations and high demand, as if to imply that Young was benefitting from the situation.
Young argued that the network intentionally painted him in a bad light and harmed his security consulting company.
The jury found CNN guilty of defamation on Friday.
WATCH:
NEW: Jury finds CNN liable for defaming U.S. Navy veteran who helped with Afghanistan evacuation. pic.twitter.com/RfJM6luR4c
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 17, 2025
During the trial it was revealed fake news CNN’s revenue has dropped $400 million in the last few years.
CNN’s finances that Axelrod referred to earlier based on 2023 tax documents given to Plaintiff. pic.twitter.com/WZBnwYQMNy
— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) January 17, 2025
Zachary Young’s forensic economist, Robert W. Johnson, took the stand to assess CNN’s revenue to determine potential punitive damages and CNN’s ability to pay.
Johnson estimated CNN makes $5 million a day so a “30-day total would be $150 million.”
Johnson ballparks CNN makes “$5 million a day.”
Says a 30-day total would be “$150 million.”
— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) January 17, 2025
A few hours later CNN reached an agreement with Zachary Young.
Young and CNN have reached a settlement, their lawyers tell Judge Henry.
— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) January 17, 2025
A juror asked if they have the privilege to know the settlement and the judge responded, “Apparently not.”
Another juror asks if they “have to privilege to know the settlement amount.”
Judge looks over at lawyers, quickly responds “Apparently not.”
— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) January 17, 2025
The post JUST IN: CNN Pays Navy Vet Zachary Young Undisclosed Settlement For Punitive Damages After Jury Orders $5 Million in Emotional and Financial Damages appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.