January 1, Closing Arguments Fire Up CNN Defamation Battle

Wyatt’s Take

• Jury hears closing statements in CNN defamation case over Afghanistan coverage.
• Zachary Young says CNN destroyed his professional reputation and mental health.
• CNN lawyers defend report as tough but fair, tell jury to use common sense.

Lawyers made strong statements as the jury prepares to decide if CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. Young claims the network’s 2021 report falsely implied he was making illegal profits while helping people escape Afghanistan, which wrecked his career and mental well-being.

“It was a calculated attack by CNN on his character that has inflicted deep and lasting wounds,” Young’s lead counsel Vel Freedman told jurors.

Freedman argued CNN failed to include important facts, like Young working only with sponsors and not charging Afghan refugees. He said CNN made Young out to be a “predator” and caused pain that money can’t fix.

Freedman listed evidence from the trial, including CNN staffers defending the “black market” label, and internal network talk about issues like “extortion” and “fraud.” He also showed how the network’s leaders said their apology to Young was only for legal reasons.

Freedman urged jurors to hold CNN accountable, saying their “tool to save American media” is through awarding punitive damages.

CNN’s lawyer David Axelrod pushed back, telling the jury their duty was to stick to the facts. Axelrod said CNN’s report was “tough but fair,” and there was no proof Young was hurt financially from the coverage. He urged the jury to use “common sense” and decide based on the evidence, not emotion.

This case comes as trust in major media continues to be questioned, especially in stories tied to national security and veterans.

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Wyatt Matters

Stories like this touch the heartland because it’s about fairness, honesty, and standing up for those whose reputations are on the line. Regular Americans understand what it means to have your good name questioned and want to see truth win out, especially when it comes to our veterans and their service.