Zachary Young, a US Navy veteran, is pursuing nearly $500 million in a lawsuit against the Associated Press. His claim revolves around an article that alleged he “helped smuggling people from Afghanistan.” This case follows his successful legal battle against CNN earlier this year, where he argued that they tarnished his reputation during the 2021 military withdrawal by implying he profited from aiding people in escaping Afghanistan.
Young’s legal team argues that the Associated Press’ article escalates the falsehoods compared to CNN’s reporting. They have amended the complaint to highlight 40 articles from the AP that misuse the term “smuggling” to imply criminal activity, despite prior court rulings indicating Young did nothing illegal.
Recently, Young’s attorney informed the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Bay County, Florida, that several media outlets, including US News & World Report and WTOP News, retracted their published articles from the AP following a letter from Young’s legal team. Though these outlets did not acknowledge any wrongdoing formally, the timing of their actions seems to suggest an understanding of the potential repercussions.
Young’s attorney, Daniel Lustig, argues that the AP’s continuous publication reflects a reckless disregard for journalistic standards and believes that the situation supports Young’s claim for punitive damages. Lustig emphasizes that the damages to Young’s reputation persist, and the AP has failed to amend or retract their statements.
In past comments, the Associated Press referred to the lawsuit as “frivolous,” maintaining that their reporting was accurate. Young is seeking substantial financial compensation, including at least $18 million for financial losses, $50-$75 million for reputational harm, and punitive damages ranging from $50 million to $350 million. The AP has yet to provide further comments on the current proceedings.
