Staff Reports
The upcoming presidential debate may see Biden on stage, but can we really trust that? In a twist of fate, one of the moderators, Jake Tapper, is facing a whopping $1 billion defamation lawsuit that could hit CNN right where it hurts. The Florida First District Court of Appeals has greenlit plaintiff Zachary Young’s quest for punitive damages against the network, alleging that Tapper’s scathing remarks tarnished Young’s reputation amidst his humanitarian efforts during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
The court didn’t pull any punches, ruling that Young had indeed proven the malice required to push for punitive damages against CNN. Internal messages within CNN revealed a shocking level of hostility towards Young, with one correspondent even expressing a desire to “nail” him as if it were some kind of vendetta. The court found this conduct outrageous enough to pave the way for punitive damages.
I hope Zachary wins this law suit. Jake Tapper Could Cost CNN $1 Billion in Defamation Suithttps://t.co/ErdsdtFiFD
— 🇺🇸𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓭🇺🇸𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷🇺🇸 (@Texas_jeep__guy) June 25, 2024
CNN’s senior editor didn’t hold back either, referring to Young as “a shit” in internal communications. Young’s lawyer minced no words in calling out CNN for their systemic failures in accountability, which could potentially land the network with a jaw-dropping $1 billion payout.
CNN’s portrayal of Young’s legitimate business aiding Afghans in peril as “black market” and “exploited” painted him as a criminal, damaging his career and reputation. Despite Tapper’s insinuations of uncertainty surrounding the safety of Young’s operations, CNN couldn’t produce any evidence to back their defamatory claims.
This lawsuit echoes a past incident where CNN settled a defamation case with Nick Sandmann, proving that the network seems to have a pattern of jumping the gun with its biased coverage. Will CNN stand their ground or opt for a settlement this time around? One thing is certain – their track record shows a concerning lack of lessons learned.
