CNN found guilty of defamation of US Navy veteran who paid to evacuate Afghans | Media News

The plaintiff accused CNN of destroying its reputation by portraying it as a profiteer exploiting desperate Afghans.

A jury in Florida has found CNN television news provider liable for defamation against a United States Navy veteran who helped evacuate people from Afghanistan after the US military withdrawal in 2021.

CNN was ordered to pay a total of $5 million in damages, a six-person jury said Friday. There will be a second phase of the trial to determine any punitive damages. The verdict followed a two-week trial in state court in Panama City, Florida.

A CNN representative said the network would not comment until a jury has decided on punishment.

Plaintiff Zachary Young sued CNN in 2022, accusing Warner Bros. Discovery of destroying his reputation by portraying him as a profiteer exploiting desperate Afghans in a segment called “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”

Although the network said in March 2022 that it regretted using the term “black market” to describe Young’s work, CNN stood by its story and denied defaming Young.

The case stems from Ganj’s work as a security consultant helping corporations and charities evacuate people from Afghanistan after the Taliban quickly took control after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.

In a segment on The Lead, CNN said that “desperate Afghans” trying to flee the country are being “exploited” by being charged “exorbitant” and “impossible” fees for evacuation.

The segment focused on Ganja, displaying his name and picture next to a croon saying that evacuees face a dangerous “black market.”

“The sum and substance of the segment states and implies that Young sold evacuations directly to Afghan nationals, exploited Afghan nationals and sold them illegal goods/services on the black market,” Young said in the lawsuit.

Young’s lawyers said CNN’s characterization of his work as illegal or exploitative was wrong, and that he repeatedly told the network that he only worked with corporations and non-governmental groups and tried to get his people out. Ganj said that high prices were due to high demand.

Young said the CNN segment destroyed his reputation and career, caused depression and panic attacks and cost him millions of dollars in income.

It was an unusual guilty verdict against a media outlet in a defamation case. Defamation laws generally protect news organizations, and plaintiffs must meet a high standard to prove defamation.

To win the case, Young would have had to prove CNN knew or should have known the story was false, but published it anyway. He also sought punitive damages intended to punish the defendants and required Young to prove that CNN intended to harm him.

The case went to trial after a judge denied CNN’s motion to dismiss the case and allowed Young to seek punitive damages and restitution.