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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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A major general who helped facilitate evacuations in Afghanistan testified that he would not work with Zachary Young after the CNN segment aired because there was "too much risk of reputation involved."
Major General James Young, who has no relation to the plaintiff in this case, took the witness stand on Friday as the defamation trial against CNN continues.
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Why It Matters
Trust in legacy media organizations has been declining in the U.S. for years.
In April 2023, Fox News settled a lawsuit for $787 million after broadcasting false claims that voting machines were rigged in the 2020 election. Now a left-leaning outlet is at the center of a potentially similarly damaging defamation case.
The CNN case will also be keenly watched by media organizations to assess the limits of the First Amendment's free speech protections.
What To Know
Zachary is a U.S. Navy veteran who helped Afghan citizens evacuate during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He was featured in a segment on CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper on November 11, 2021, about the United States military's withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is accusing CNN of defamation and libel.
In the lawsuit, Zachary alleges that he was rendered "permanently unemployable" and suffered "millions of dollars in lost income" as a result of the segment.
James worked with Allied Airlift 21 (AA21), a group of individuals, including military veterans, that coordinated with the U.S. government to support the evacuation of Afghans.
He said his group had a different business model than Zachary's organization, but some of the methodology was "very similar."
James said the segment created "undue risk and potential reputational risk to an organization that would be associated with it."
He said he would not have hired Zachary to work with AA21 following the segment.
"No, for AA21, I think there was too much risk of reputation involved."
He said the organization would "try other methods" to help evacuate Afghans.
James said he would have worked with Zachary prior to the segment.
What People Are Saying
David L. Axelrod, a lawyer representing CNN, in his opening statement: "These stories were carefully researched. They were carefully written, and many experienced journalists at CNN put eyes on these stories. Neither story accused Mr. Young of doing anything illegal."
Kyle Roche, lawyer representing Young, in his opening statement: "The message we're going to ask you to send is that reckless journalism is un-American, it's dangerous, and if media companies engage in theater in the newsroom, America will hold them accountable in the courtroom."
What Happens Next
The trial is expected to last two weeks and include testimony from CNN journalists and executives.
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