Jury finds CNN guilty of defamation, awards $5M to security contractor

​​​​​​​By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - A jury in the US state of Florida found CNN guilty Friday of defaming security contractor Zachary Young in a November 2021 segment about the high costs of evacuating Afghans following the Taliban’s takeover.

The jury awarded Young $5 million for lost business opportunities and pain and suffering, with punitive damages to be determined later, according to a report by the Washington Post.

Young filed a defamation lawsuit in 2022, arguing CNN's report falsely implied he engaged in criminal activity. During the two-week trial in Panama City, jurors heard from CNN reporters and executives who defended the story, asserting it underwent the network's rigorous editorial process.

Jurors concluded CNN’s report was materially false, done with at least negligence and caused Young significant harm.

Young’s attorneys argued that CNN’s use of an on-screen graphic referencing “black markets” alongside his image and messages implied criminal activity, despite the term not being used in the story. CNN staff defended their reporting process, stating it underwent rigorous internal reviews but jurors questioned their methods.