CNN accused of misleading court about net worth in high-profile defamation case

On the eve of a high-stakes defamation trial, CNN is now accused of misleading the court regarding documents relating to its net worth.

U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young alleges CNN defamed his security consulting firm, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by implying it profited illegally from helping people fleeing Afghanistan during the country's military withdrawal by the Biden administration in 2021. He is now suing CNN claiming it “destroyed his reputation and business” during a segment that year on Jake Tapper's show “The Lead.”

In September, Florida Judge William Henry ordered CNN to comply with a subpoena to provide additional financial information that the cable network had presented to its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

Although CNN claimed it would produce these files, documents obtained exclusively by Newsbusters revealed that “plaintiffs learned that CNN never intended to produce documents showing assets and liabilities (because they don't exist.”

A civil trial involving a defamation action against CNN is scheduled for next month. (CNN/Screenshot)

PLAINTIFFS IN HIGH-ISSUE CNN DEFAMATION LAWSUIT WANT TO GRILL JAKE TAPPER AGAIN

“Not only did CNN and WBD not provide any of the promised documents identifying assets and liabilities, but CNN's representative also did not provide information on the net worth figure that CNN provided (but did denial) in his response to questioning Indeed, CNN's corporate representative did not provide any information on net worth, even though net worth was one of the topics noted, in fact the main topic. -they read.

The documents also reveal that the reason CNN could not provide financial information was because “its financial condition cannot at all be separated from the financial condition of its parent company” Warner Bros. Discovery.

Young's legal team is now asking the court to issue an order requiring Warner Bros. financial statements to be released. Discovery be used to determine the possible award of punitive damages and to prevent CNN from introducing evidence or arguments based on its net worth.

A civil trial is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2025 before Judge William Henry of the Circuit Court of Bay County, Florida.

Fox News Digital has contacted CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery for comment.

CNN is accused of withholding financial information despite previously saying it would do so under a court order. (Elie Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The CNN segment at the center of the suit, which was shared on social media and also repackaged for CNN's website, began with Tapper informing viewers that CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt had discovered that “Afghans who try to leave the country are faced with a black market full of promise.” , exorbitant fee requirements and no guarantee of security or success.

Tapper fired back at Marquardt, who said “desperate Afghans are being exploited” and must pay “exorbitant, often impossible sums” to flee the country. Marquardt then pointed the finger at Young, displaying a photo of his face on the screen and saying his company was charging $75,000 to transport a passenger vehicle to Pakistan, for $14,500 per person, to end up in the United Arab Emirates.

“Prices well out of reach for most Afghans,” Marquardt told viewers.

US Navy veteran suing CNN scores key legal victories ahead of high-stakes defamation trial

Earlier this year, Florida State First District Court of Appeal judges ruled that Young had presented evidence of “actual malice, express malice, and a level of conduct sufficiently outrageous” to justify a trial.

US Navy veteran Zachary Young believes CNN “destroyed his reputation and business by calling him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021 segment on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” from CNN. (CNN/Screenshot)

The judges wrote: “Young released messages and emails from CNN that showed internal concern about the completeness and truthfulness of the reporting – the story is 'a mess,' 'incomplete,' not 'fleshed out for digital', 'the story is 80%'. emotion, 20% obscured facts' and 'full of holes like Swiss cheese'”, but the network aired it anyway.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.