A defamation trial brought by Navy veteran Zachary Young against CNN saw expert witnesses take the stand, offering testimony on the financial and psychological impact of a 2021 CNN report. Young alleges the report, which aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," falsely implicated him in illegal profiteering from Afghan evacuations after the Biden administration's withdrawal, damaging his professional reputation.
Major General James V. Young (no relation to the plaintiff) testified that the evacuation prices charged by the plaintiff were "reasonable," contradicting CNN's characterization of them as "exorbitant." He stated, "We couldn't have done what we did for free." While Maj. Gen. Young initially suggested he would have considered hiring someone with the plaintiff's connections, he stated the CNN report made the plaintiff "too risky" to associate with.
CNN's lead counsel, David Axelrod, questioned Maj. Gen. Young's lack of independent inquiry into the plaintiff's qualifications and highlighted that he was a paid expert witness with no prior knowledge of the plaintiff.
Richard Bolko, a certified public accountant, estimated Young's financial losses due to the CNN report to be over $21 million. CNN's counsel challenged Bolko's methodology and his understanding of Young's pre-report financial prospects, emphasizing the "uncertainty" inherent in his calculations.
Dr. John Vincent, a clinical psychologist, testified that Young suffered from "Major Depressive Disorder" and "Other Specified Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder" due to the CNN report. He described Young's "panic-related behavior" and emphasized the lasting impact of the report. CNN's counsel pointed out the time lapse between the report and the diagnosis, highlighting that Vincent relied on Young's self-reported symptoms. It was also noted that Vincent had only interacted with Young once, virtually, for several hours, and acknowledged that litigants might be inclined to exaggerate symptoms.
The CNN correspondent who led the segment, Alex Marquardt, is expected to testify. A CNN spokesperson expressed confidence in a favorable verdict once all facts are presented. The trial is being streamed live on Fox News Digital.
