Judge: CNN "Evil Intent"

A former special operator who rescued refugees from Afghanistan as it fell to the Taliban in 2021 and whose business was destroyed by a CNN story he says was false and defamatory, won a significant procedural victory in a Florida court in his libel lawsuit against the network.

In his order, Judge Henry permitted Mr. Young to sue for punitive damages and add "allegations as to republication of the segment on the show hosted by Jim Acosta."

The evidence put forth by Mr. Young's team provided a reasonable basis to establish CNN either knew statements were false, published them while possessing contradictory information, or published them "with reckless disregard despite awareness of their probably falsity," Judge Henry wrote.

He said the plaintiff establishes "actual malice" and "express malice."

Actual malice is defined by USlegal as "a statement made with a reckless disregard for truth."

Express malice is when the statement is made with intent to harm.

"In total," Judge Henry said in his court order, "Plaintiffs have proffered evidence of ill will, hostility, evil intent on the part of defendant's employees in putting together and airing the on-air segment and digital media pieces."