A judge in a high-stakes defamation lawsuit against CNN ruled Tuesday that U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young “did not engage in any illegal or criminal conduct” despite what the network broadcast. I put it down.
Young was accused by CNN of insinuating that he and his security consulting firm, Nemex Enterprises, made illegal profits when they helped people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan. , claims to have defamed him. “He is a profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans,” Young said in CNN's “The He spoke in the “Lead with Jake Tapper'' corner.
“Young has not engaged in any criminal or illegal activity,” Judge William S. Henry wrote in a document obtained by FOX News Digital, adding that CNN's statements about black market operations “are not about Young. The court ruled that the case concerned Young. Judge Henry also said it was a “bridge too far” for CNN to cite Islamic law to defend the idea that Young had committed illegal acts.
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CNN host Jake Tapper and correspondent Alex Marquardt in the segment at the center of the defamation lawsuit. (CNN/Screenshot)
The CNN section at the center of the lawsuit was shared on social media and repackaged for CNN's website, in which Tapper reported that CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt said, “Afghans trying to leave the country… It began by telling viewers that they had discovered that they were facing a black market full of promises. , they charge exorbitant fees and there is no guarantee of safety or success. ”
Mr. Tapper addressed Mr. Marquardt, who said “desperate Afghans are being exploited” and must pay “exorbitant and often impossible amounts” to flee the country. Mr. Marquardt then named Mr. Young, showed his mugshot on a screen, and demanded $75,000 for his company to transport the passenger-filled vehicle to Pakistan, eventually ending up in an Arab Emirate. He said he was demanding $14,500 per person until they arrived in the Commonwealth.
“The price is out of reach for most Afghans,” Marquardt told viewers.
No other person or company was mentioned by name, but CNN inaccurately portrayed Young as a villain who preys on desperate people, using the words “black market,” “exploitative” and “outrageous.” He claimed to have painted it.
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“Young has not engaged in any criminal or illegal activity,” Judge William S. Henry wrote in a document obtained by FOX News Digital, adding that CNN's statements about black market operations “are not about Young. The court ruled that the case concerned Young. (CNN/Screenshot)
Lawyers for CNN argued that the term “black market” has multiple definitions, and that Young “doesn't know whether he was operating legally or illegally, and that his actions are consistent with Taliban law and Islamic law.” He claimed that he was involved in a violation of the law.”
The judge said “Young did not commit any criminal or illegal act” and that “to the extent that the defendants allege that they may have violated Taliban or Islamic law, this is a bridge too far.” handed down a judgment.
“First, Taliban and Islamic laws restricting the movement of people (particularly women) into and out of Afghanistan seem to suggest that laws suggesting the evacuation of individuals from Afghanistan have been properly enacted, adopted, and approved. In fact, the only information contained in the records is that regulations restricting travel in and out of Afghanistan were only formally adopted in 2024, almost three years after the publication of this incident. “This suggests that,” the judge ruled. .
“Furthermore, Defendant did not allege the application of any foreign law to this case.Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Defendant's corporate representatives assert that Defendant's reporting of illegal or criminal acts committed by Young The judge continued: “Accordingly, there is no dispute as to the material fact that Young did not engage in any illegal or criminal conduct.”
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A photo of plaintiff Zachary Young was aired by CNN during the segment in question. (CNN/Screenshot)
The court also ruled that the statements about the “black market” were “of and about” Young.
“The segment aired on this incident includes a chiron containing the term ‘black market.’ Young is the only individual identified by name and photo during this segment, although it is entirely plausible for viewers to conclude that the defendants are suggesting that Young is active in the black market. , although the work vaguely refers to other individuals providing extraction services and does not specifically say that Young was a black market operator, the court found that references to “black market.'' “We find that there is a factual issue as to whether the reference was made to Young,” the judge wrote.
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The civil trial is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2025, before Judge Henry in Bay County, Florida Circuit Court.
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