Navy veteran who underwent CIA training describes the 'devastating' effect of CNN segment on his life: 'Being labeled a criminal'

On Tuesday, U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young stated that the CNN segment in question had a "devastating" impact on his life.

CNN is accused by Young of smearing him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believes that CNN destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans during a November 11, 2021, segment that first aired on CNN’s "The Lead with Jake Tapper."

On Tuesday, the high-stakes trial which began on Monday with jury selection, saw Young testify as the first witness after both sides presented their opening statements. Young stated that it is difficult to convey to someone who is not familiar with his environment how devastating it is when the term "black market" is used to describe his operations.

"You are branded as a criminal globally," Young stated during his questioning by lead counsel, Vel Freedman.

He stated that he was passionate about safeguarding the national security of the United States and intended to pursue a career post-service because the world is vast, and the government can't protect America entirely. Therefore, he believes private contractors are crucial.

Young clarified that he is not a mercenary and does not like the term when discussing his work for Blackwater and other contractor roles after his Navy service.

Judge William S. Henry, presiding over the trial in Bay County, Florida, has ruled that Young did not act illegally or criminally, despite what the network reported on air. Additionally, the court found that Young did not take money from Afghans.

The 2021 segment at the center of the suit was teased by Tapper, who cautioned CNN viewers about the dangers of desperate Afghans being targeted by individuals demanding exorbitant payments to leave the country.

In the upcoming segment of the show, Tapper will discuss the story of "desperate Afghans" being "preyed upon."

As the twice-promoted segment started, Tapper stated that CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt discovered that Afghans attempting to flee the country encounter a black market filled with false promises, excessive fees, and no assurance of safety or achievement.

Marquardt stated that desperate Afghans are being exploited and need to pay exorbitant, often impossible amounts to flee the country.

Marquardt highlighted Young, displaying his photo on the screen and stating that his company required $75,000 to transport a group of passengers to Pakistan or $14,500 per individual to reach the United Arab Emirates.

Marquardt, who is expected to be called as a witness in the defamation trial, stated that prices are beyond the reach of most Afghans.

CNN reported that Marquardt allegedly tried to contact Young, but Young did not respond to the call.

"According to Marquardt, Young informed CNN that Afghans attempting to flee are required to have sponsors cover their expenses. Additionally, Young stated that evacuation costs are subject to change based on environmental factors."

Young repeatedly declined to reveal the cost or disclose if he was earning money, before playing a clip of an anonymous sympathetic man who couldn't afford to evacuate his family from Afghanistan.

Marquardt went back to Young, saying he received another text message.

Marquardt informed viewers that in another message, Zachary Young stated, "Availability is extremely limited, and demand is high," and added, "That's how economics works, unfortunately."

Marquardt's report was thanked by Tapper, who replied, "Unfortunately, hmm."

No other people or companies were named other than Young.

Two anonymous Afghans were interviewed during the segment. They were concerned about their families stuck in Afghanistan and whether they could afford to evacuate them. However, the two people interviewed by CNN did not have any contact with Young.

It is unclear why Young's testimony about not interacting with either man was included in the report on him.

My life was immediately and devastatingly affected, as testified by Young.

CNN's on-air apology for the segment was deemed inadequate by Judge Henry. During Tuesday's trial, Freedman pointed out that Tapper did not apologize to Young. It was CNN's Pamela Brown who substituted for Tapper when the apology was issued, four months after the segment aired.

In testimony, Young disclosed his comprehensive post-Navy career, including the creation of the SERE training program for U.S. allies in the United Arab Emirates. He stated that the program imparts skills necessary to escape from perilous circumstances, such as those experienced in Afghanistan in 2021 due to the Biden administration's flawed military withdrawal plan.

He was eventually hired by DynCorp in 2018 for about $361,000 per year, as shown by his contract, which contained ethical and legal clauses.

The host country's "black market" laws were strictly enforced, and any violation would result in the termination of his contract without severance. Jurors took notes during the testimony, as the term "black market" was used by CNN in the segment at the center of the case.

The CIA-trained individual, who is young, detailed his extensive training in sophisticated methods for exchanging sensitive information in hostile areas without being detected. It seemed that his legal team was ensuring the jury was aware of the specific skills required to safely evacuate someone from a dangerous war zone as Taliban members searched for those attempting to flee.

Young testified about the challenges of evacuating people from Afghanistan, likening it to a frog jumping from lily pad to lily pad until reaching the stressful border.

"It's a very stressful environment," he says.

Young, who received payment from both Audible and Bloomberg to evacuate "their people" from Afghanistan, stated that the cost of moving individuals out of the country was high, and he needed to make a profit as a private contractor building a business. He emphasized that he only accepted money from "sponsors," which were essentially large corporations such as Audible and Bloomberg, and did not deal with private citizens who would scoff at his prices.

As a businessperson, I am also a patriot, stated Young.

He marketed his expertise on LinkedIn, stating that his network primarily consists of individuals in the security or military sectors, and confessed to either disregarding or obstructing individuals he knew he couldn't assist.

On Tuesday evening, jurors discovered that Young communicated with an individual who later became a CNN informant. The woman confronted Young about the high fees he charged for assisting people in evacuating.

The eventual CNN source told Young that the plan sounded more like a retirement plan than a mission of mercy.

Young initially tried to explain himself but eventually told her to "f--k off." Despite her continued messaging, Young later stated that he didn't need to defend his prices to a "spiteful b---h on LinkedIn" and blocked her.

Despite the salty language used by Young in his messages to the CNN source, the jury did not seem particularly bothered. However, Young still expressed regret for his actions.

"I made a mistake and said something inappropriate," Young testified.

On Wednesday, Young's testimony will be live-streamed on Planet Chronicle' website.