PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – There were fireworks at Bay County Court on Thursday during the third day high-stakes testimonials of the plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit against CNN, in which the judge will impose a fine for personal statements in the future.
US Navy veteran Young claims CNN smeared him by suggesting he profited illegally when he helped people flee Afghanistan on the ‘black market’ during the war. Biden administration military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN has “destroyed his reputation and business” by labeling him as an illegal profiteer who exploited “desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021 segment that first aired on CNN’s “ The Lead with Jake Tapper”. ”
Young had previously said during the deposition and testimony that he never received any money or found work in his industry after CNN’s report. That became crucial during cross-examination when CNN lead attorney David Axelrod, who is not the same person as the on-air expert of the same name, produced a document unknown to the plaintiff or the court.
Navy veteran warned CNN reporter he would seek ‘legal damages’ if ‘INACCURATE’ STORY WAS PUBLISHED
Judge William S. Henry of the 14th Judicial Circuit. (Tyler Orsburn/Gannet)
Judge William Henry sent the jury out of the room to discuss the case without them present. The document was a contract binding Young to a company called Helios Global. It was signed by Young and dated December 8, 2021 – after the CNN report aired.
Young’s attorney, Vel Freedman, noted that Helios Global came up during the discovery process and that “CNN chose not to serve a subpoena” for any documents.
“We did not have this document or it would have been produced and that does not mean that Mr. Young breached his discovery obligations,” Freedman said.
He then blasted CNN for using it as a “surprise document” for “dramatic effect.”
“We’re not supposed to have an ambush trial in this state,” Freedman said.
“This is completely inappropriate,” he continued. “And CNN should not have used this document. They should have provided it to us first.”
Freedman then called CNN’s legal team “desperate,” prompting snickers from their bench.
Judge Henry then scolded both sides for “personal attacks” and insults.
Axelrod responded, “The plaintiff’s whole case is that he couldn’t get work after the CNN publication.”
Axelrod then said that Young “knew he had entered into a new agreement with a government contractor a month after CNN’s publication.”
Plaintiff Zachary Young claims CNN smeared him by suggesting he illegally profited when he helped people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the Biden administration’s 2021 military withdrawal from the country. (CNN/screenshot)
“This entire lawsuit was a fraud on this court. It was a fraud on CNN,” Axelrod said, adding that Young “lied” in his statement.
“He’s come up with an incredible ruse,” Axelrod said. “This lawsuit was a fraud from day one.”
The two sides bickered back and forth until Judge Henry declared that both sides were guilty of “slinging mud back and forth.”
“I’m not going to make a ruling based on who can label each other as the worst person in this case,” Judge Henry said.
Judge Henry then called for a recess as he wanted to return to his chambers to think the cases over. That resulted in a lengthy delay, as journalists and other attendees speculated whether it would disrupt the entire process. Based on Axelrod’s response to the document, most people who attended the trial assumed that the document showed that Young had been paid by Helios as a consultant, which would have contradicted the sworn testimony.
Judge Henry eventually reversed and ruled that the trial would proceed and the document could be used. Judge Henry suggested that knowledge of the document was clearly in Young’s “brain,” even though he had no physical copy to produce during discovery. He also ruled that it does not lead to prejudice to admit it so late.
‘I don’t expect this to happen again. I think I said this for the last time,” Judge Henry said.
US Navy Veteran Zachary Young testified under oath that he did not take any money from Helios after the CNN report aired. (Jessica Costescu)
The judge imposed a $100 fine for each time an attorney personally insults the other party in the future, with the money going to North Florida Legal Services.
After the stunning pause in the trial, the trial resumed and Axelrod briefly discussed the document that seemed so crucial. Noting that the headline was “Consultant Security Agreement,” Axelrod asked Young if he signed the document on December 8, 2021, and asked if that date was after the CNN segment.
“Yes,” Jong replied.
Shortly thereafter, Axelrod concluded his cross-examination.
Freedman later asked Young to clarify the document ordeal during the diversion.
“Once you have left the government services, you can no longer hold a (security) clearance yourself. It must be through a company that has an agreement with the US government. They are the ones who should sponsor the approval. is issued by the U.S. government,” Young said.
“This is just a company, like any defense contractor, that has the contracts with the U.S. government, and they have the authorization for the individual,” Young said. “Every year you must sign this administration document with whoever has your permission. In this case it is Helios. It is not an agreement to do work… it is simply an administrative function.”
Young testified that he turned over seven years of bank information and that Helios had not made any payments to him.
“CNN knows this: There are no transfers from Helios Global,” Young said.
So in the end, Young testified under oath that he didn’t take any money from Helios after the CNN report aired and therefore he wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t making any money in his industry in the wake of the crisis. CNN report – but North Florida Legal Services might get a few donations if the hostile environment continues.
The trial will resume on Friday and can be followed live Fox News digital.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
