The U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young’s high-stakes defamation lawsuit against CNN took a significant step forward on Wednesday as a judge heard multiple motions for summary judgment. Young alleges that CNN tarnished his reputation and that of his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by suggesting they illegally profited from assisting individuals in fleeing Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal in 2021.
During the hearing, Judge William S. Henry ruled that Young did not act illegally or criminally, despite CNN’s reporting. The judge also dismissed CNN’s defense citing Sharia law to imply Young operated on the black market. As a result, the jury will be instructed to assume Young did nothing against the law.
The legal battle between Young and CNN continued with arguments over punitive damages and whether Young is a public figure. CNN’s legal team defended their reporting as journalism, while Young’s attorney emphasized that there was no evidence to support CNN’s claims.
The lawsuit centers around a CNN segment that aired in 2021, where Young was singled out for allegedly charging exorbitant fees to help Afghans escape the country. Internal documents revealed during the discovery process showed that CNN employees had concerns about the segment but aired it anyway.
A civil trial is scheduled to begin on January 6 in front of Judge Henry in the Circuit Court for Bay County, Florida. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for both Young and CNN as they continue to battle it out in court.
