On Tuesday, an attorney encouraged the jury to deliver a clear message to mainstream news outlets by determining that CNN had slandered a security contractor in their 2021 report concerning Afghan refugees.
Zachary Young is filing a lawsuit against the network located in Panama City, Florida, claiming that he was unfairly depicted as being involved in an illegal “black market” operation following the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan. He alleges that he offered to help refugees leave the country for $14,500 per person.
On Tuesday, I took issue with CNN’s reporting as a cinephile, stating that it was irresponsible and careless with the facts they presented. In my opinion, their intention was not just to inform but to tarnish Zach’s good name.
He stated that they weren’t concerned with the truth, rather they prioritized drama and audience numbers.
Roche asserted that jurors have the power to significantly impact an industry through their verdict, as this decision may resonate with every major news outlet across the United States.
He contended that irresponsible reporting goes against American values. It’s risky, and if news organizations act dramatically behind the scenes, the American people will take legal action against them for their actions.
The trial is taking place at a courthouse in Bay County, located along Florida’s Gulf Coast. This court hearing follows a $15 million settlement between Disney and President-elect Donald Trump, reached last month to resolve a defamation lawsuit against ABC and George Stephanopoulos. Trump has vowed to take action against the media by filing more lawsuits, such as the one he initiated against the Des Moines Register over an inaccurate poll suggesting that Kamala Harris was ahead of him in Iowa.
Six jurors were chosen on Monday in the Florida trial.
During his statement on Tuesday, CNN’s legal representative, Dave Axelrod, contended that the report was truthful and primarily based on Young’s own statements.
Axelrod stated, “Every single thing you’ll find in CNN’s news reports is truthful.” He added that it was challenging, impartial, and precise.
He observed that CNN gave significant attention to the struggles of refugees following the American troops’ departure, providing extensive news coverage.
Axelrod stated, ‘It was a catastrophe.’ Showing this tale was essential for us, the American public. Sadly, it was a misstep in policy that put our allies in grave difficulty.
Axelrod stated that numerous Afghans were met with a profound dread of reprisal from the Taliban. He contended that the sum of money mentioned by Young appeared to be an extraordinarily high figure to the local populace.
Additionally, he asserted that Young perceived the turmoil in Afghanistan merely as an opportunity for financial gain. Moreover, it’s important to note that the narrative did not implicate Young in any unlawful activities.
Roche presented an overview of the plaintiff’s argument, which primarily depends on internal communications exchanged among the CNN team during the development of the story. One message from reporter Alex Marquardt showed his determination to “expose Zachary Young.” Another CNN staff member suggested that the narrative would depict a “provocative figure” – referring to Young, the attorney clarified.
Other colleagues at CNN had expressed reservations about the story, with some describing it as having numerous inconsistencies or being riddled with gaps, similar to Swiss cheese, according to Roche’s remarks.
Axelrod argued that the journalists went to great lengths to gather all the details from Young and subsequently featured his response in their article. Furthermore, he justified the journalists’ seemingly harsh remarks towards Young, stating that they found his handling of the critical situation distasteful.
Roche stated that Young, a former Navy serviceman who also worked for the CIA, managed to rescue 22 women from Afghanistan on behalf of four different corporations, among them Audible and Bloomberg. He added that Young never billed any individual Afghan for his services.
Young earned an annual salary of approximately $350,000 working as a security contractor. However, Roche contends that his professional standing and reputation suffered significantly following the CNN report.
Roche evoked the spirit of Walter Cronkite, the esteemed CBS news anchor whom he described as genuinely committed to presenting the truth. In stark contrast, he criticized contemporary journalism, suggesting it prioritizes sensationalism over factual reporting, with an emphasis on attracting clicks through scandals and dramas.
In this trial, you have a chance to swing the balance in our media more toward reason,” he stated.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
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2025-01-08 05:16