Decorated Navy veteran Zachary Young, after winning $5 million in his defamation battle against CNN, now finds himself fighting yet another battle against media giants who continue to smear his name by falsely labeling him a human smuggler.
At a Glance
- U.S. News & World Report has retracted an Associated Press article about veteran Zachary Young amid accuracy disputes over claims he “smuggled” people out of Afghanistan
- Young previously won a $5 million defamation lawsuit against CNN for falsely implying he illegally profited from helping Afghans flee during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal
- AP continues to defend its reporting as “factual and accurate” despite U.S. News’ retraction and Young’s new lawsuit
- Young has also filed lawsuits against Puck News for allegedly republishing CNN’s defamatory claims
- The ongoing legal battles highlight a disturbing pattern of mainstream media outlets smearing a decorated veteran’s reputation
Media’s Relentless Attack on a Veteran’s Reputation
It seems our mainstream media just can’t stop defaming the character of those who’ve served our country. U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, who already proved in court that CNN defamed him to the tune of $5 million, is now taking on the Associated Press for similarly false reporting. The AP apparently thought it would be just fine to characterize Young’s heroic efforts to help people escape Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as “smuggling” – a term that explicitly implies criminal activity according to AP’s own stylebook.
What’s particularly telling about this whole fiasco is that U.S. News & World Report has already retracted the AP article in question, clearly recognizing the problematic nature of claiming a decorated veteran was engaged in “human smuggling.” Yet the AP, in that arrogant stance we’ve come to expect from legacy media, refuses to back down or admit their reporting crossed a line. Instead of acknowledging their error, they’re doubling down with claims that their reporting was “factual and accurate” – the same tired defense CNN tried before a jury handed them their $5 million reality check.
The Original CNN Defamation and Ongoing Media Attacks
Let’s not forget what started this whole saga. CNN initially implied that Young was illegally profiting from helping people flee Afghanistan during the catastrophic U.S. withdrawal in 2021 – you know, that brilliantly executed Biden administration disaster that left Americans stranded and handed the Taliban billions in military equipment. Despite Young making it clear to CNN before they published that their reporting was inaccurate and would result in legal action, they proceeded anyway, seemingly more interested in crafting a narrative than reporting truth.
“Young’s business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan, but he said he worked exclusively with deep-pocketed outside sponsors like Bloomberg and Audible” – David Bauder.
After winning his lawsuit against CNN, you’d think other media outlets would be careful not to make the same mistake. But no – Puck News and the Associated Press apparently couldn’t resist piling on with more defamatory coverage. Young’s attorney has pointed out that “rather than restore Mr. Young’s good name, the media coverage of his court victory created new libel.” It’s a perfect example of how our media ecosystem operates today – when caught in a lie, don’t apologize or correct; just repackage the lie and keep pushing it.
Media Double Standards and Shameless Defenses
The Associated Press, in particular, has some serious nerve. Their reporter, David Bauder, wrote that “Young’s business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan” – a statement that according to the AP’s own stylebook defines human smuggling as “transporting people across borders illegally for a fee.” This is precisely the kind of dishonest wordplay that mainstream outlets use to smear conservatives and anyone who doesn’t align with their preferred narratives. They choose loaded terms, claim innocence, and then hide behind hollow defenses when called out.
“AP blatantly accused Mr. Young of engaging in criminal human smuggling.” – Daniel Lustig.
Young’s lawsuits against Puck and the AP seek not just compensatory and special damages, but also punitive damages – and rightfully so. These outlets need to learn that there are consequences for recklessly defaming American citizens, especially those who have served our country. While U.S. News & World Report had the integrity to retract the story, other outlets like The Minnesota Star Tribune and WAFF haven’t followed suit, further perpetuating falsehoods that damage Young’s reputation and business opportunities.
The Broader Pattern of Media Malpractice
This isn’t just about one veteran and a few careless articles. It’s about a pattern of behavior from our supposedly trustworthy news sources that shows utter contempt for accuracy when it conflicts with their desired narrative. The same outlets that rush to publish unverified claims against conservatives will fight tooth and nail to avoid correcting false statements even after they’ve been legally proven wrong. Young’s attorney praised U.S. News for doing the right thing by retracting, but the AP’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge their error speaks volumes about the state of journalism today.
“AP’s story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young’s favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit.” – AP spokesperson.
As Young seeks justice in Bay County, Florida – the same venue where he triumphed over CNN – we should all be paying attention. This case isn’t just about clearing one man’s name; it’s about holding accountable a media establishment that has abandoned its responsibility to report truthfully in favor of pushing narratives that align with their political biases. If a decorated veteran who risked everything to help people escape the Taliban can be casually labeled a criminal by our press, what chance do ordinary citizens have against this machinery of character assassination?
