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Defamation case against CNN over Afghan evacuation report goes to a jury

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A Florida court will determine if CNN slandered a U.S. Navy veteran by publishing a report alleging that Afghan evacuees were overcharged for their evacuation following the U.S. military’s departure from their country in 2021.

On Thursday, closing statements were delivered in a case that will assess the general opinion of media, with a focus on CNN, following years of criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. Such a verdict against CNN could bring significant humiliation to the network.

Thursday saw the presentation of final arguments in a trial where the credibility of the press, particularly CNN, will be scrutinized due to years of negative remarks from President-elect Donald Trump and his followers. A guilty verdict against CNN would cause considerable embarrassment for the network.

Zachary Young, a security consultant living in Vienna who has worked for the CIA, is filing a lawsuit against CNN for defamation. He was mentioned in a report by CNN’s chief security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, about how some Afghans, seeking to flee Taliban forces following the U.S. withdrawal, were overcharged for assistance in leaving.

The individual, who posted his evacuation offer on LinkedIn, stated that he exclusively worked with clients backed by corporate sponsors. He successfully extracted 22 employees from Bloomberg and Audible out of Afghanistan. He clarified that he never received money directly from Afghans, as CNN reported in their article, these individuals were allegedly being taken advantage of due to fear of retaliation from the Taliban for aiding American forces.

At one point, Young required a sum of $14,500 to assist individuals in leaving the country. However, it’s important to note that his services were mentioned during a CNN segment alongside interviews with Afghans discussing their attempts to flee, but there was no association between Young and these specific efforts.

The use of “black market” in the story’s title and throughout its various platforms (on-screen banner, CNN programs, website, and social media) might have given the impression that his actions were illegal, although Marquardt’s segment did not explicitly accuse him of such activity.

In the civil case held at a court in Bay County, Florida, it’s the jury’s task to decide if CNN journalists knowingly published false information without proper regard for the truth, also known as acting with actual malice. If CNN is found responsible for this action, damages beyond compensatory ones (punitive damages) could potentially be awarded to Young.

1) According to Young, the story tarnished his reputation and took away his means of earning a living, reducing his yearly income from $350,000 to nothing. This situation caused him significant emotional and mental turmoil. Val Freedman, Young’s lawyer, accused CNN of exploiting scandals for views and clicks, asking the jurors to deliver a message that media outlets should be held responsible for their actions.

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Traditional news outlets, such as television networks and newspapers, are experiencing a decline as audiences shift towards more personalized content like podcasts. The election of Donald Trump exposed the dwindling significance of established media in favor of programs driven by individual personas.

In my view, when CNN’s legal team and their associates refer to the “black market,” they are simply using a colloquial term for an “unofficial market” or one that operates outside the usual regulations. This doesn’t inherently imply it’s a criminal activity. However, I must admit that in common usage, the term “black market” often carries connotations of illegality. But as lawyers for Young pointed out, the dictionary definition does describe it as an illegal market.

Freedman advised the jury on Thursday that they should not allow CNN to change the English language in order to dodge responsibility in this specific instance.

CNN made a public apology on air following a letter from Young’s legal team suggesting potential litigation. However, Marquardt and several CNN editors and officials stated under oath that they felt no need for such a correction based on their editorial viewpoint.

Adam Levine, CNN’s Vice President for News Gathering in Washington, stated that the apology was made upon the advice of the network’s legal team to prevent potential legal action by Young.

Throughout the nine-day court case, attorneys representing Young argued that Marquardt’s news reports were more about creating drama to capture audience attention, rather than being truthful.

Lawyers for the young man have been examining a video that depicts Marquardt mimicking a phone call he made to this person (Young), who didn’t answer. Towards the end of the video recording, Marquardt can be seen on the tape referencing an old “Saturday Night Live” skit starring Jon Lovitz as Master Thespian, a self-important actor.

Marquardt admitted the humor behind the situation once he recreated the phone call, however, he pointed out that such an action is commonly carried out during live TV news broadcasts.

In my own words, I’d say: “When crafting a TV program, it’s essential to gather a variety of shots so I can seamlessly piece them together and narrate the complete tale. This is a common approach in productions; the more shots I have at my disposal, the better.

The evidence additionally revealed severe labeling of Young in text messages between CNN employees about the story. They referred to him as a “so-and-so” and an “annoying individual.

The jurors learned that each CNN report undergoes an editorial scrutiny procedure. It was revealed during the testimony that concerns arose about this specific story, which one producer described as having “more flaws than Swiss cheese.” Although the problems with the story were addressed, it appears that neither the on-screen captions nor the introductions underwent the same rigorous examination process.

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2025-01-16 22:31

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