CNN turns over internal documents as part of high-risk defamation lawsuit

FIRST ON FOX — CNN on Thursday evening turned over a series of internal documents to the legal team representing U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young in a high-stakes defamation lawsuit against the news organization, Fox News Digital has learned.

Young claims CNN disparaged his security consulting firm Nemex Enterprises Inc. by saying it profited illegally by helping people fleeing Afghanistan in the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN “destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an “illegal profiteer exploiting desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021 segment on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”

The creation of the document came after Judge William Henry agreed with Young's lead attorney, Vel Freedman, that CNN should turn over sensitive financial information that the cable channel had provided to its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, to determine CNN's net worth.

According to a source familiar with the case, CNN's legal department turned over a series of documents that the plaintiff's legal team claimed were relevant to determining the company's solvency before Thursday's midnight deadline.

Freedman confirmed he had received the documents but declined further comment when reached by Fox News Digital.

CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST CNN COULD EXPOSE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL SECRETS AS COURT SEES TO SETTLE ASSETS

CNN anchor Jake Tapper and correspondent Alex Marquardt during the segment discussing a defamation lawsuit. (CNN/Screenshot)

The CNN segment at the center of the lawsuit, which was shared on social media and also repackaged for the CNN website, began with Tapper informing viewers that CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt found: “Afghans trying to Those seeking to leave the country face a black market full of promises, demanding exorbitant fees and no guarantee of safety or success.

Tapper turned to Marquardt, who said “desperate Afghans are being exploited” and are having to pay “exorbitant, often impossible amounts” to flee the country. Marquardt then lashed out at Young, showing a picture of his face on the screen and saying his company was charging $75,000 to transport a vehicle with passengers to Pakistan, for $14,500 per person to do so in the United Arab Emirates land.

“Prices that are far beyond the reach of most Afghans,” Marquardt told viewers.

“We got Young's number and called, but he didn't answer. In a text message, he told CNN that 'Afghans who try to leave are expected to be paid by sponsors. If someone has come forward, we need to know if that is the case.' “You have a sponsor behind you who is able to pay the evacuation costs, which are very volatile and depend on environmental conditions,” Marquardt continued. “Young repeatedly declined to break down costs or say whether he makes money.”

No other people or companies were named other than Young.

“In another message, the person offering these evacuations, Zachary Young, wrote: 'Availability is extremely limited and demand is high'… He continues: 'Unfortunately that's how the economy works,'” Marquardt told viewers.

Tapper replied, “Unfortunately, hmm,” before thanking Marquardt for the report.

CNN faces defamation lawsuit over Afghanistan withdrawal. Story: “Evidence of Actual Malice”

Jake Tapper is at the center of a defamation lawsuit against CNN. (CNN/Screenshot)

Young claimed that CNN used the terms “black market,” “exploitation” and “exorbitant” to portray him as a bad actor who took advantage of desperate people.

Earlier this year, judges on the First District Appeal Court of the State of Florida ruled on June 12 that Young had presented enough evidence to move forward with the defamation lawsuit.

“Young has presented sufficient evidence of actual malice, expressed malice and exhibited a level of conduct outrageous enough to open the door for him to seek punitive damages,” the court document said. “Whether Young can prevail in the end is not the question we face.”

The jurors wrote: “Young provided CNN messages and emails that showed internal concerns about the completeness and veracity of the reporting – the story was 'a mess,' 'incomplete,' not 'digitized,' 'the story is too 80 % “emotion, 20% hidden facts” and “full of holes like Swiss cheese”, but the station broadcast it anyway.

Plaintiff Zachary Young's photo was broadcast on CNN during the segment in question. (CNN/Screenshot)

“Young also provided a message exchange he had with Marquardt just hours before publication in which he suggested the reporting contained factual inaccuracies. CNN published anyway,” the judges wrote, adding that other internal communications staff showed CNN employees had “little regard” for Young and used profanity and derogatory language when speaking about him privately.

“Marquardt referred to him as a 'f—ing young' and quipped, 'It's your funeral, buddy,'” the court document states.

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“On appeal, CNN argues it did not intend to cause harm; his language was either an opinion or ambiguous; and the internal communications were journalistic bravery that reflected a sincere belief in the reporting,” the judges wrote.

A civil trial is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2025 before Judge Henry in the District Court for Bay County, Florida.