CNN will face a two-week defamation trial in January, brought by a security contractor who said the network’s 2021 reporting falsely implied he acted illegally while evacuating civilians from Afghanistan. Zachary Young claims the report damaged his business, alleging CNN’s “black market” label hurt his reputation and livelihood.
Young, a Navy veteran and head of the consulting firm Nemex Enterprises, was featured in CNN’s 2021 segment that discussed operators charging high prices to assist those fleeing Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrawal.
The report displayed Young’s photo alongside a graphic reading “Afghans trying to flee Taliban face black markets, exorbitant fees, no guarantee of safety or success.”
The term “black market” was later removed from CNN’s web version of the story, and an on-air apology was issued to clarify that Young’s activities were not illegal. However, Young contends that the initial report, broadcast on CNN’s global platform, severely damaged his consulting business and reputation.
In June, a Florida appeals court ruled that Young’s case contained sufficient evidence of negligence and actual malice by CNN, allowing him to seek punitive damages.
Settlement talks stalled, and Judge William Henry Scott recently confirmed Young’s actions were not illegal, though he has yet to rule on whether CNN’s use of “black market” implied criminality.
The trial, set for Jan. 6, will include public testimony from CNN journalists and producers about their editorial process. Internal CNN messages, some containing harsh language about Young, will also be presented, though CNN argues these do not reflect intent to publish false information.
This case is one of several recent defamation suits involving major news organizations, including CNN’s 2020 settlement with student Nicholas Sandmann and Fox News’ $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
