It’s been a case that’s been ongoing for months, though it’s been buried in a host of other matters, not least the 2024 election, the war in the Middle East, and many other issues that for sure suffocated a lawsuit that seemed poised to gut CNN to its core. ABC News isn’t the only network that got in trouble recently.
“The Most Trusted Name in News” ran a segment in 2021 about our shambolic exit from Afghanistan, accusing a Navy veteran of exploiting the Afghan people who were trying to flee the country. Some veterans deployed to Afghanistan to get refugees out once it became clear the Biden administration’s incompetence was going to leave people behind. CNN accused the plaintiff, Zachary Young, of “exploit[ing]” “desperate Afghans.” After a lengthy discovery process and a days’ long trial, the network has been found liable and must award Young punitive, emotional, and economic damages. The damage so far is $5 million. The punitive damages are to be determined. Newsbusters’ Nicholas Fondacaro has done some
excellent reporting on this case and was
present at the courthouse in Panama City, Florida, for the trial: