CNN Settles Defamation Case After Navy Veteran Wins $5 Million Verdict

The network reached an undisclosed settlement with Zachary Young after a jury found it liable for defamation over a 2021 report about Afghanistan evacuations.

A Florida jury awarded U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young $5 million in damages after finding CNN defamed him in a 2021 report tying him to illegal profiteering during the Afghanistan withdrawal.
CNN settled with Young for an undisclosed amount before the jury could deliberate on punitive damages, following weeks of courtroom testimony and internal evidence disclosures.
Internal CNN messages presented during the trial revealed staff members expressing hostility toward Young, with one describing the story as '80% emotion, 20% observed fact.'
The case provided a rare look into CNN's financial struggles, with forensic analysis showing the network's net worth halved between 2021 and 2023, dropping from $4.4 billion to $2.3 billion.
Young expressed relief at the outcome but criticized CNN's lack of a sincere apology, while the network stated it remains committed to fair-minded reporting.