Judge Rules Defamation Case Against CNN Can Proceed to Trial

Navy veteran Zachary Young claims CNN falsely portrayed him as exploiting Afghan refugees during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.

Florida Judge William Henry denied CNN's motion for summary judgment, allowing Navy veteran Zachary Young's defamation lawsuit to proceed to a jury trial in January 2025.
Young alleges that a 2021 CNN segment falsely implied he engaged in illegal profiteering by charging exorbitant fees to help Afghans flee the Taliban during the U.S. military withdrawal.
The court found sufficient evidence for a jury to consider whether CNN acted with 'actual malice,' citing internal communications where CNN staff used derogatory language about Young and expressed intent to target him.
CNN issued an on-air apology in 2022, acknowledging errors in its reporting, but the court ruled that the apology may not constitute a full and fair retraction.
The trial could expose internal editorial practices at CNN, with potential testimony from its journalists and producers, as well as evidence of the network's decision-making process for the segment.