U.S. Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young continued his testimony in the $1 billion defamation trial against CNN, on Wednesday. The morning’s testimony featured the jurors being shown some fairly damaging messages between Young and CNN reporters Katie Bo Lillis and Alex Marquardt. The messages show Young was being lied to about the nature of CNN’s reporting and Young warning them that what they’re about to air on TV was factually inaccurate. They jurors looked on intently and were taking copious notes.
The jury was first shown how Lillis made contact with Young under the false pretenses that she was doing background research on the situation in Afghanistan. "Please let me know if I can assist with any Afghan evac requirements," he told her. "Is CNN involved with rescue efforts..." he asked wondering if they wanted to sponsor an evacuation.
Lillis said CNN wasn't interested in his service but rather "working on some reporting related to ongoing efforts to help get at-risk Afghans out of the country..." Young testifies that he thought she was doing "general reporting" about the situation.
As a "quiet professional," Young said he was more than willing to talk with her off the record.
Lillis ominously told him she wanted to talk and allow him "the opportunity...to make your case to keep your name out of it." "I'm a straight shooter, I'll be frank with you about where we are," she claimed.
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***The complete post is on NewsBusters***
. Ben Graham
