Zachary Young sues Associated Press after claims of smuggling

In January 2025, a jury in Florida ruled in favor of U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, who had successfully sued CNN for defamation. The court found that CNN had falsely implied he profited from helping people escape Afghanistan during the evacuation in 2021. This ruling established that Young engaged in no illegal conduct during those efforts, a key point emphasized throughout the trial. The Associated Press subsequently reported on the CNN trial, but included language describing Young’s actions as 'smuggling,' which Young contended falsely accused him of engaging in criminal activity. Following the publication of this report, Young initiated a separate defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press, seeking punitive damages. His legal team highlighted that the term 'smuggling' is typically associated with illegal activities, contrasting this with Young’s legitimate work aimed at saving lives. They also noted that the AP had a history of using similar terms in articles related to human trafficking and drug operations. Young’s attorney asserted that the slanderous reporting went beyond CNN's errors, aiming to hold media outlets accountable for their language and implications. Young's determination to pursue justice was reinforced by the previous victory against CNN, as he sought the same venue for this case, asserting that public confidence in the media remains at stake. The AP stood by their report but had not commented on Young's specific allegations or the examples provided in his lawsuit. Meanwhile, U.S. News & World Report retracted a related article but did not believe their original report was entirely misleading, indicating ongoing tensions in the media's portrayal of Young’s actions during the Afghan evacuation.