Lawyer claims that CNN prioritized "theater over truth" and "destroyed the life of an American Patriot" in a trial opening statement.

On Tuesday, during the first day of a high-stakes defamation trial, Zachary Young's legal team accused CNN of prioritizing "theater over truth" in an attempt to boost ratings, which "destroyed the life of an American Patriot."

Despite what CNN reported, Young did not act illegally or criminally, as ruled by 14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry in Bay County, Florida.

As American troops exited Afghanistan in August 2021, under President Biden's orders, the world prepared for the Taliban's resurgence. The chaotic scene that unfolded was witnessed by millions of people trying to escape the war-torn country, according to attorney Kyle Roche's opening statement.

"CNN reporters in Washington, D.C., were determined to share a more captivating story with Americans. They had obtained information that Zachary Young, a seasoned and CIA-trained operative, was engaging in illegal activities by exploiting vulnerable Afghans in a black market operation."

Roche stated to the jury of eight people, including alternates, that there would be no issue with CNN reporting it if it were accurate.

Roche stated that the issue with CNN was their inability to verify any of the information.

"CNN was determined to get evidence that Zach was charging Afghans, but everyone they spoke to either claimed they had never heard of Zach or that he only worked with corporations like Bloomberg. Despite the lack of evidence, CNN believed they had a sensational story that would boost ratings, and they didn't care about the truth."

Roche claimed that emails and hidden video footage would prove his argument because they demonstrated that CNN intentionally portrayed Young as a villain to boost the story's popularity. Roche then revealed to the jury that CNN staff used offensive language in private conversations about Young.

On November 11, 2021, CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" featured the first airing of the story.

"Today, we are in court because CNN prioritized drama over accuracy and ruined the life of an American hero, Zach, who was falsely portrayed as a black-market operator preying on desperate Afghans," Roche stated.

Roche informed the jury that Young successfully rescued 22 women from Afghanistan on behalf of Audible and Bloomberg, two American companies that hired him to guarantee the safe exit of specific individuals.

Despite warnings from CNN's own employees that the story had "more holes than Swiss cheese," the story ultimately turned Zach's life upside down, according to Roche.

Roche emphasized to the jury that the court had previously determined that Young did not violate any laws by accepting funds from Afghans. He used this opportunity to convey a message to all media outlets that "irresponsible journalism is antithetical to American values," "endangers public safety," and carries serious repercussions.

He stated that there was no justification for CNN's actions and that they would demonstrate this through evidence.

Roche did not air the segment at the center of the lawsuit, indicating that it would be shown later in the trial when the plaintiffs had more time to analyze each moment they deemed defamatory.

David Axelrod, CNN's lead counsel, defended the network's reporting on the Young case, arguing that it was "tough and fair" and "accurate." He emphasized that CNN never implied that Young had committed any crimes.

"There is no there there," Axelrod said.

"Axelrod stated that every word in CNN's reporting was accurate and tough. Evidence will show this in the case."

Axelrod displayed the crucial part of the case to the jury, criticizing Young's legal team for not presenting it during opening statements.

Axelrod stated that the story does not suggest that Mr. Young is committing any criminal acts, and it only uses his own words to explain that he is charging a high fee to rescue people from Afghanistan.

""This is a defamation case, and you may wonder, why the plaintiffs didn't include the segment in their presentation... they chose not to show it to you. However, when you carefully watch the segment and read the article, you'll realize that there's no substance to the allegations," he emphasized."

The lawyer for CNN repeatedly paused the segment to explain his perspective, suggesting that many of the elements were not relevant to Young.

On Wednesday, the trial will resume with Young taking the stand as the first witness and providing a detailed account of his background.