Multiple CNN employees who testified in the network's defamation lawsuit brought by Navy veteran Zachary Young have publicly disagreed with the on-air apology CNN issued to him. Young sued CNN over a 2021 report that he claims falsely implied he was involved in black market activities during the Afghanistan evacuation, damaging his reputation. CNN apologized in March 2022, stating their use of the term "black market" was an error and that they did not intend to implicate Young. However, several CNN staffers, including senior editor Fuzz Hogan, correspondent Alex Marquardt, and producer Michael Conte, testified they believed the term "black market" was accurate and the apology unnecessary. Hogan stated he stood by the original report, while Marquardt felt the term appropriately described the situation in Afghanistan. Conte explicitly stated he did not believe using "black market" was an error. Other CNN staff, including Virginia Moseley, executive vice president of editorial, and supervising producer Michael Callahan, also expressed disagreement with the apology. Moseley testified that she didn't associate "black market" with a negative connotation. Callahan defined the term as an "unregulated market" and believed it applied to the Afghanistan context. Adam Levine, CNN's senior vice president of Washington newsgathering, offered the only defense of the apology, attributing it to the network's legal department seeking to avoid a lawsuit. He confirmed the apology aimed to mitigate legal risks but evaded questions about whether CNN considered Young's concerns valid. The trial continues, with live streaming available on Fox News Digital.
CNN's Pamela Brown issued an on-air apology to Zachary Young for the network's use of "black market." (Screenshot/CNN)
CNN journalist Fuzz Hogan testified against the necessity of the correction. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)
CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt defended the use of "black market." (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)
CNN editorial chief Virginia Moseley questioned the negative connotation of "black market." (Fox News Media/Law & Crime)
