CNN spent another day in a Panama City courtroom, where it's attempting to defeat a $1 billion defamation suit. Tuesday's proceedings included opening statements and testimony from the plaintiff, Navy veteran Zachary Young, who revealed details sure to embarrass the network, our Jessica Costescu reports from the scene.
For starters, Young's attorney, Kyle Roche, recounted internal text messages in which CNN's editors admitted that their reporting on Young—which falsely accused him of operating in an illegal "black market" when he attempted to evacuate Afghan nationals from the country in 2021—was "full of holes like Swiss cheese" and consisted of "80% emotion and 20% obscured fact."
He also disclosed a contract between Young and private military contractor DynCorp that included a clause barring Young from working in a "black market," the very term that landed CNN in hot water. Major American entities like Audible and Bloomberg—not poor and vulnerable Afghans—paid Young for evacuation services, according to court proceedings.
Young also noted that star anchor Jake Tapper, whose show aired the accusations in question, has not apologized for the segment. While CNN aired an apology four months after the segment ran, chief investigative correspondent Pamela Brown filled in for Tapper on that day.
"It's devastating when you're labeled a criminal, all over the world," Young said during his testimony.
CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter, sometimes referred to as "Humpty Dumpty," did not tweet about the trial on Tuesday, though he did ding Trump for referring to an interview as a news conference.
We'll be back with more trial coverage tomorrow.
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