Panama City, Florida — U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young told CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt that his story was “inaccurate” and that he would “not seek legal damages,” according to text messages shown to jurors Wednesday. “I'll ask for it,” he warned.
Young, on his second day on the stand, said he initially thought CNN needed help evacuating its citizens from Afghanistan, but after a staffer viewed his LinkedIn page, CNN decided to use his services. He said he thought he might be interested and contacted him. Young testified that when he learned that CNN reporter Katie Beau Lillis only wanted to speak for a story, he immediately told her that he did not want her name included in any reports.
Young alleges that CNN slandered him by suggesting that the Biden administration made illegal profits by helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during its 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan. There is. Young believes CNN has “ruined his reputation and business” by labeling him a profiteer. With Jake Tapper, the man who exploited “desperate Afghans” in a segment that first aired on CNN's “The Lead” on November 11, 2021. ”
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U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young told a CNN reporter that his story was “inaccurate” and that he would “seek legal damages” if published, according to text messages shown to jurors Wednesday. I warned you. (Jessica Costescu)
Beau Lillis, the CNN reporter Young first engaged with, did not promise not to publish his name, according to text messages shown in court. According to the messages, Beau Lillis continued to press Young to call him about the evacuation effort, and although Beau Lillis claimed he just wanted background on “the state of the land,” Young “I don't like attention,'' he replied.
“As a condition of speaking to you, I still request that my name not be included in any article,” he wrote.
Beau Lillis then told Young that his price seemed “exorbitant”, but Young responded that he did not expect the Afghans to pay. Instead, Young told her he was focused on working with people who had sponsors or large corporations willing to pay to evacuate people from conflict areas.
In messages that captivated jurors, Young ultimately told her bluntly that whoever had informed her was pushing a “slander” and urged her to get her facts straight.
“The focus of your article seems pretty clear at this point. I hope you take the time to get your facts straight to avoid defamation as you move forward with your article,” Young wrote. Ta.
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U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young wept on the witness stand Wednesday. (Jessica Costescu)
Young testified that if she had known she was the focus of the story, she would have called her attorney “right away.”
Mr. Marquardt, who continued to report on the story at the center of the lawsuit, contacted Mr. Young.
According to the message, Marquardt told Young that he was working on an article detailing his interactions with people inquiring about his services and asked if he wanted to talk about it by phone or text message. .
Young said he needed time to respond properly, but Marquardt said the article would be published that afternoon.
“That's not a realistic deadline,” Young responded. “It will take several days for us to review the content and provide comment.”
Mr. Marquardt claimed that he had already contacted her by phone the week before, but Ms. Young testified that Mr. Marquardt had not contacted her. A CNN correspondent expected to be called as a witness then gave Young just two hours to answer a series of questions.
“That is by no means a realistic deadline. In any case, I can tell you with certainty that some of your facts and allegations are not accurate. If they are published, I will seek legal damages. Mr. Young responded to Mr. Marquardt.
Marcart continued talking anyway.
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CNN host Jake Tapper and correspondent Alex Marquardt in the segment at the center of the defamation lawsuit. (CNN/Screenshot)
Jurors, who refused a short break because they wanted to continue listening, were then shown the now-infamous part. They were also shown two teasers used by CNN anchor Jake Tapper to promote the report.
Tapper first teased the 2021 part at the heart of the lawsuit, saying, “Desperate Afghans are still trying to flee the country and are being preyed upon by those who demand they pay big bucks to get out.” warned CNN viewers. Tapper later reminded viewers that the story of “desperate Afghans” being “predated” was next.
As the segment began, Marquardt realized that “Afghans seeking to leave the country face a black market full of promises, exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.'' he said.
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 by name, flashed his photo on the screen, and offered $75,000 to transport the passenger-filled vehicle to Pakistan and $10,000 per person to arrive in the United Arab Emirates. He said the company is asking for $4,500.
“The price is out of reach for most Afghans,” Marquardt said.
Marquardt “told CNN in a text message that Afghans seeking to evacuate are expected to have sponsors pay for their expenses,” Young said, adding that the network's evacuation costs “are highly variable. , based on environmental realities,'' he added.
Marquardt then released footage of an anonymous, sympathetic man who couldn't afford to evacuate his family from Afghanistan, after Young said he “repeatedly refused to give a breakdown of costs or whether they were making money.” flowed.
Marquardt returned to Young and said he received another text message.
“In another message, Zachary Young, who suggested the evacuation, wrote that “availability is very limited and demand is high…'' He continued, “Unfortunately, the economic That's what it is,'' Marquardt told viewers.
Mr. Tapper responded, “Unfortunately, hmmm,” then thanked Mr. Marquardt for his report.
No other people or companies other than Young were named.
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U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young said on CNN's “The Lead with Jake Tapper” segment on Nov. 11, 2021, that CNN “rejects the label of a profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans.” “and ruined his reputation and business.” (CNN/Screenshot)
Young also testified that he has never met or interacted with two different anonymous Afghans interviewed on CNN's segment. They were worried about their families stranded in Afghanistan and whether they would be able to afford to evacuate them. Young said she had no interaction with either man.
During much of this segment, CNN's on-screen Chiron said, “Afghans seeking to flee the Taliban face a black market, exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.”
At one point during Young's marathon testimony, he criticized CNN for thinking that evacuation from conflict zones can guarantee safety or success.
Young's attorney also had the jury read his client a dictionary definition of “black market.”
One of them said, “Illegal trade in publicly controlled and rare goods.”
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CNN's lead attorney David Axelrod cross-examines Zachary Young.
On Tuesday, jurors viewed Young's contract with Dyncorp, which states he must not violate “black market” laws in the country he is staying in or his contract will be terminated without termination. It was written. His contract was not renewed.
Throughout their testimony, Mr. Young and his attorney repeatedly pointed out that his face was shown on CNN's show. This left Ms Young with a “complete mental breakdown”, she told jurors.
“I had a pretty rough time,” he said.
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Young cried on the witness stand Wednesday as she explained how CNN's reporting affected her personal life.
“I'm not the same person I married my wife to. She didn't have to worry… she knew I was the provider, and I always will be,” Young said on the stand. “It's been a complete failure ever since CNN aired a report about him,” he said, getting emotional and adding that he “feels like me.”
Mr Young, who is now taking antidepressants and sleeping pills, said the whole ordeal has affected his close relationship with his wife.
“My sex drive was completely gone,” Young said.
“I don't know if it's the trauma or the medication or both,” he continued. “My wife has been very understanding…I feel completely devastated, embarrassed and eviscerated.”
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Young's wife was absent for the first three days of the high-stakes trial, and the Navy veteran, who is caring for his sick mother, spent the second week of the trial with his wife in Panama City, Florida. He said he hopes to join with.
It was then CNN's legal team's turn to cross-examine Young. Lead attorney David Axelrod, who is separate from CNN senior commentator David Axelrod, spent much of his time presenting tax returns to jurors, and after CNN's report aired, Young questioned why he deleted his LinkedIn messages and peppered him with questions about Young's work. history. Jurors will go home at 5pm sharp and cross-examination of Mr Axelrod will continue on Thursday.
