High-profile defamation case: CNN accused of misrepresenting net worth in court.

CNN is facing accusations of misleading the court about its net worth documents before a high-stakes defamation trial.

Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran, alleges that CNN damaged his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., by suggesting it broke the law while assisting people in leaving Afghanistan during the Biden administration's withdrawal from the country in 2021. He is now suing CNN for ruining his reputation and business during a segment on Jake Tapper's program "The Lead."

In September, a Florida judge ordered CNN to provide additional financial information to its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), in response to a subpoena.

Newsbusters obtained exclusive documents that reveal CNN never intended to present assets and liabilities (because they don't exist), despite their earlier claim.

CNN and WBD did not provide any documents identifying assets and liabilities, and CNN's representative did not supply any information about the net worth number CNN provided (but disclaimed) in its interrogatory response. Furthermore, CNN's corporate representative did not provide any information about net worth, even though it was one of the noticed topics—indeed, the main topic.

The reason CNN couldn't provide financial information was due to its inability to separate its financial status from that of its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Young's legal team is requesting the court to order Warner Bros. Discovery to provide financial statements for determining a potential punitive damages award and to prevent CNN from introducing any evidence or argument based on its net worth.

On January 6, 2025, a civil trial will commence in the Circuit Court for Bay County, Florida, presided over by Judge William Henry.

CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery were contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for a comment.

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 discovered "Afghans trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success."

Marquardt accused Young of exploiting desperate Afghans by charging exorbitant and impossible amounts for transportation to Pakistan, where they would end up in the United Arab Emirates.

Marquardt informed viewers that prices were unaffordable for most Afghans.

In 2021, the First District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida determined that Young's evidence demonstrated "actual malice, express malice, and a level of conduct that was outrageous enough" to warrant a trial.

Despite the judges' concerns about the completeness and veracity of the reporting, CNN aired the story.

Planet Chronicle' Brian Flood contributed to this report.