BREAKING: Florida Jury Finds CNN Guilty for Defamation Suit Against Navy Seal Veteran

In a rare win against a media giant, a Florida jury found CNN defamed Navy veteran Zachary Young in 2021.

This is in regards to a story about rescuing Afghans from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Young argued CNN misrepresented his business as a “black market” operation.

Guess how that affected his business?

You guessed it. It ruined his livelihood.

The jury sided with him, awarding $5 million in damages, with punitive damages still on the table.

CNN has yet to comment as the trial continues.

I wonder how many people CNN have defamed over it’s lifetime that they got away with?

There needs to be a tidal wave of lawsuits against this giant.

🚨BREAKING🚨

CNN found guilty of defaming security contractor, ordered to pay $5 million

A Florida jury of six decided unanimously to find the network guilty of hurting the reputation of security contractor Zachary
Young. pic.twitter.com/ISilxnCXPL

— Andrea Shaffer, Employment/Labor Law (@Andreafreedom76) January 17, 2025

CBS News reports:

A Florida jury on Friday found that CNN defamed a U.S. Navy veteran in a 2021 story about people paid to rescue endangered Afghans following the Taliban takeover of that country.

It was an unusual ruling against a media outlet in a defamation case. Libel laws are generally protective of news organizations, and plaintiffs must meet a high standard to prove defamation.

The jury in Panama City, Florida, deliberated for more than eight hours starting Thursday before ruling in favor of Zachary Young, who blamed CNN for destroying his business by showing his face onscreen in a story about a “black market” of smuggling out desperate Afghans for high fees.

The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages and is now being asked to determine whether CNN must pay additional punitive damages.

Young had argued that his business targeted sponsors who could afford to pay for Afghans to get out, not individual Afghans charged as much as $10,000 for the service. While CNN said it was wrong to use the phrase “black market,” it contended that its reporting on Young was accurate.

CNN said it would have no comment on the verdict until after the punitive damages part of the trial is concluded.

BREAKING: A jury just found CNN defamed Navy veteran Zachary Young with this Jake Tapper segment on extractions from Biden's Afghanistan debacle. pic.twitter.com/vALmrSvmMN

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 17, 2025

🚨BREAKING: Fake News CNN must pay $5M for defaming Navy veteran, Zachary Young, during Joe Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan pullout. Jake Tapper is a lying POS! GUILTY!pic.twitter.com/OyoM3LhGTV

— AJ Huber (@Huberton) January 17, 2025

Justice has been served for this patriot.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

CNN found guilty in Florida trial of defaming Navy veteran! pic.twitter.com/LvDrXue1tM

— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) January 17, 2025