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A judge’s subpoena decision could prove to be a tell-all on the finances at CNN as a defamation suit regarding Afghanistan withdrawal reporting sought answers on the network’s net worth.

The Biden-Harris administration wasn’t alone in continuing to face flack three years after their accountability-lacking disaster in the Middle East left allies under threat from the Taliban. Ahead of a civil trial set to begin early next year, U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young’s 10-figure defamation suit against the network got the green light to subpoena financial information shared between CNN and their parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

On Sept. 5, according to NewsBusters, Florida 14th Judicial Circuit Judge William Henry cleared a path for the CNN subpoena as part of the defamation case involving anchor Jake Tapper’s Nov. 2021 coverage that claimed Afghans were “being exploited” by contractors who had stepped up to help them flee the country.

“In a car accident case, the defense does a RFP (request for proposal) to the plaintiff saying, ‘send me all your medical records,’ but then, at the same time, there’s a notice of production and subpoenas all the medical providers and gets their records not only from the accident but predating it or whatever,” Henry had reportedly said. “And it’s just to make sure that what’s being produced on one side is the same as what the doctor actually has in their office.”

Puck reporter Eriq Gardner relayed, “Young has won a green light to seek punitive damages,” while suggesting that the judge’s move “sent a jolt through CNN’s executives offices.”

“Accordingly, Young’s attorneys will soon be receiving documents to assess CNN’s net worth, so they can argue before a jury just how big a penalty Young should receive. The judge has also ordered a deposition for Jake Tapper, who will likely have to disclose his salary and contract negotiations,” added Gardner.

As had been reported, Young, of the security consulting company Nemex Enterprises, Inc., had brought suit against CNN for their Nov. 11, 2021 report on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” that allegedly “destroyed his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans.”

Tapper had said CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt found “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.”

The correspondent in turn stated, “desperate Afghans are being exploited” before an image of Young was aired while it was reported his company sought $75,000 to move travel in a vehicle out of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates via Pakistan at a sum of $14,500 per person.

While they lamented the costs as being “beyond the reach of most Afghans” the report went on to cite text message responses from Young.

According to Marquardt, he told the network, “Afghans trying to leave are expected to have sponsors pay for them. If someone reached out, we need to understand if they have a sponsor behind them to be able to pay evacuation costs which are highly volatile and based on environmental realities.”

The correspondent added, “Young repeatedly declined to break down the cost or say if he’s making money.”

“In another message, that person offering those evacuations, Zachary Young, he wrote, ‘Availability is extremely limited and demand is high’…he goes on to say, ‘That’s how economics works, unfortunately,’” recounted Marquardt, prompting Tapper to react, “Unfortunately, hmm.”

Fox News indicated as the defamation suit progressed, “Tapper’s salary will be particularly interesting to now-former CNN employees who were let go during a recent round of cost-cutting headcount reductions. The network announced in July that roughly 100 staffers would be let go.”

It was further reported that “CNN’s lawyer Charles Tobin ‘visibly bristled at the ruling’ and told the judge that the Oct. 11 deadline to comply ‘upends’ his plans.”

Kevin Haggerty
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