Zachary Young took aim at the CNN correspondent behind the report a jury found was defamatory against him following a lengthy legal battle against the network.

When a CNN broadcast characterised navy veteran Zachary Young as a “black market” profiteer, one of its own editors determined the story had as many holes “as Swiss cheese”.

The rare defamation trial involving a major media company could serve as a deterrent to other outlets.

News network reached a deal with Zachary Young as it was facing potentially tens of millions of dollars in punitive damages.

CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt defended his story on Zachary Young, a security consultant who charged $14,000 or more to evacuate people from Afghanistan.

CNN has been found liable for defaming a security consultant featured in a report about the black market to evacuate Afghans during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.

A Florida jury on Friday determined that CNN defamed security contractor Zachary Young, who argued that his reputation and business were destroyed after he was featured in a November 2021 segment on the network about the high costs of evacuating Afghans from the country after the Taliban took power.