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FIRST ON FOX — Navy veteran Zachary Young, who previously achieved a notable legal victory against CNN, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. News & World Report as part of his ongoing efforts to restore his reputation.
Earlier this year, a Florida jury found that CNN had defamed Young, suggesting he illegally profited by assisting individuals fleeing Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s withdrawal in 2021. The jury awarded Young $5 million in total damages, which included $4 million for lost earnings and an additional million for personal suffering, along with indications that punitive damages might also be justified against CNN.
Young’s legal actions did not stop with CNN. He has also taken steps against the Associated Press and Puck, over their depictions concerning the CNN trial. The current lawsuit against U.S. News & World Report stems from a report by AP media reporter David Bauder, asserting that Young’s business was involved in smuggling people out of Afghanistan while covering the CNN case. U.S. News & World Report subsequently republished Bauder’s article, a common practice among news outlets, but later decided to retract the report after Young articulated his objections.
In documents filed on Wednesday in Bay County, Florida, which were obtained by Fox News Digital, Young’s attorney, Daniel Lustig, criticized U.S. News & World Report for failing to completely retract the damaging claims. Lustig emphasized that Young had afforded the publication a chance to rectify the situation before pursuing legal action.
“We gave U.S. News every opportunity to do the right thing and correct what was clearly false. They had issued a retraction; however, it was insufficient. It did not provide a full acknowledgment of the mistake, nor did it address the seriousness of the allegations made. Words have weight, and they understood this,” Lustig stated.
Upon Young’s objection to the AP’s claim of smuggling, U.S. News & World Report removed the article and labeled it a potential misunderstanding.
On its retraction page, U.S. News & World Report stated, “RETRACTION: U.S. News & World Report has removed the article previously available at this URL that had been published on January 17, 2025, entitled ‘Florida Jury Says CNN Defamed Navy Veteran in Story About Endangered Afghans.’ The article was written by the Associated Press (AP). As an AP subscriber, U.S. News regularly republishes various AP articles daily.”
The statement further clarified that the AP article reported the jury’s finding that CNN had falsely implied Young was involved in illegal conduct. U.S. News indicated that it did not intend to suggest any unlawful actions by Young, but opted to retract the article to prevent any misunderstandings.
Despite this retraction, Young remains dissatisfied. He declared, “We did not hastily turn to the courts; instead, we were compelled to act due to U.S. News’s unwillingness to take responsibility for their publication and their failure to clarify the truth. The media holds a significant responsibility toward the public. If they fail to recognize the implications of their words and the harm they can inflict, we will continue to hold them accountable in court. The onus is now on the people of Florida to keep them honest.” Lustig conveyed these sentiments to Fox News Digital.
As of now, U.S. News & World Report has not responded to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
The court documents assert that it is “categorically false” to accuse Young of smuggling individuals. The attorney highlighted that human smuggling is a felony under U.S. law, and previous court decisions affirm that Young’s actions during the Afghanistan evacuation were not illegal.
The Associated Press has defended its reporting practices, recently articulating that its story was accurate in relation to the jury verdict that favored Young. To date, the AP has not provided comments regarding the ongoing lawsuit against U.S. News & World Report.
Young is pursuing compensatory damages and may later seek to amend the lawsuit for punitive damages as well.
A Veteran’s Determination for Justice
Young’s determination to clear his name illustrates a broader issue faced by many individuals when navigating the complexities of media coverage and public perception. The power of the press can deeply impact personal reputations, making it essential for media outlets to handle information with accuracy and care.
As he continues to fight for his reputation, Young represents not just himself but also the many individuals who find themselves unjustly portrayed by media narratives. The outcome of these legal battles may influence how media organizations approach reporting on similar sensitive subjects in the future.
