CNN Lawsuit: New Messages Between Zachary Young, CNN Reporter Revealed

Messages between a CNN journalist and a U.S. Navy veteran who is suing the network for defamation were revealed in court on Thursday.

The messages between senior reporter Katie Bo Lillis and Zachary Young were exchanged before a segment featuring Young was broadcast. During the exchange, Young told Bo Lillis several times that he did not want to be named in the segment.

Why It Matters

Young was featured in a segment on CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper on November 11, 2021, about the United States military's withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is accusing CNN of defamation and libel.

Young said CNN accused him of "exploiting" "desperate Afghans" by offering evacuations from the nation on a "black market." He said the claims were "lies published for sensationalism."

Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran, is suing CNN for defamation. He was the first to testify in the trial after opening statements were delivered. Law & Crime

What To Know

Young and Bo Lillis first connected via direct message on LinkedIn in 2021. Young said it was "nice to connect" and said Bo Lillis could let him know if she needed assistance with Afghan evacuation requirements.

The reporter said she "would love" to talk to Young about his work in Afghanistan. Young helped evacuate Afghan citizens when the U.S. military withdrew from the country that year. Young gave Bo Lillis his phone number, and the two began text messaging.

Young said he heard that CNN was asking about him.

"I thought perhaps you needed assistance rescuing Afghans," Young said. "I'd rather not be named in any reporting."

Bo Lillis then asked Young to chat off the record so she could give him a sense of what CNN was working on.

"Sure, if you will agree I won't be named in any article," Young wrote.

Bo Lillis said she "can't promise that in advance, unfortunately."

"But if you do agree to speak 'off-the-record' that guarantees that any reporting we have won't reflect that you spoke to us," Bo Lillis said.

Young asked what the nature of the story was and why Bo Lillis was interested in speaking with him. Bo Lillis then asked Young to talk on the phone the next day.

When Young questioned why the reporter was interested in him again, Bo Lillis said the network is doing a series on evacuations and the different models used to help get people out.

Young said he would talk to Bo Lillis but reiterated that he did not want to be named in the article. He said former sponsors he has worked with were asking him to sign nondisclosure agreements after hearing about the segment CNN was working on.

When Bo Lillis asked Young about the price model for his services, he said, "Pricing depends on local resource availability at any given time in a highly unstable environment." He added that the people of Afghanistan are not expected to pay the evacuation costs, and he works with corporate sponsors with the resources to support the effort.

"I do quite a lot, whether they have a sponsor behind them or not," Young wrote. "I'm sure whoever brought me to your attention knows that and has their own motivation for promoting slander. Again, please make sure you have your facts aligned before taking a few text messages and running with it."

What People Are Saying

Zachary Young, while testifying about the messages: "It's almost like I had a crystal ball, and I hadn't seen the article or the video yet, but that's exactly what she was doing."

David L. Axelrod, a lawyer representing CNN, in his opening statement: "These stories were carefully researched. They were carefully written, and many experienced journalists at CNN put eyes on these stories. Neither story accused Mr. Young of doing anything illegal."

What Happens Next

The trial is expected to last two weeks and feature testimony from CNN journalists and executives.

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