CNN has reached an undisclosed settlement with U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young after a Florida jury found the network liable for defamation, awarding him $5 million in compensatory damages. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2021 segment on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," which portrayed Young as exploiting Afghans seeking evacuation from Afghanistan by charging exorbitant fees. Young contended that this depiction was false and severely damaged his reputation and business.
During the trial, internal communications revealed CNN staff referring to Young in derogatory terms, raising questions about the network's journalistic practices. Following the jury's decision, CNN and. . .