On Wednesday, judge William Henry questioned the credibility of CNN’s lead counsel David Axelrod and criticized him for repeatedly calling Zachary Young of the U.S. Navy a “liar” ( liar ).
After CNN published a document in November of 2021 that purportedly made up a false allegation that Young had harmed Afghans by attempting to flee Afghanistan on a “black business,” Young sued CNN. A judge found that Young “did not behave improperly or illegally”. Young claimed that because of the supposedly disparaging report, he lost his job.
Axelrod argued throughout the test that Young had maintained a security certification following CNN’s record, and that Young may have lied about getting work in the months that followed. However, Young’s attorney informed the court that Young has since learned ( after testifying ) that he actually lost his security clearance in 2022.
Then Young’s attorney attempted to add an additional testimony from Helios Global, which held Young’s protection clearance due to 2022, to provide information on the status of Young’s security clearance. Young’s attorney claimed that the judge may be mistaken because of CNN’s reported false representations that Young now holds a security certification ( and therefore is ready for work ).
Smith objected and argued he did not persuade the judge about Young’s security clearance position, but Henry slammed Axelrod for the “blatant falsification” that supposedly equated Young’s security clearance with an employment contract, according to Fox News. Henry also criticized Axelrod’s portrayal of the security clearance document, noting that he once made the mistaken impression that it was a” smoking gun” before later refuting his assertions.
” Right now, your credibility with me, Mr. Axelrod, is about none”, Henry said.
Henry even referenced Axelrod’s earlier remarks, which claimed Young was a fake and claimed that he had brought a false lawsuit against him. According to Axelrod, Young “lied” when he claimed, following the CNN record, he could not find employment.
” You called him a liar several times it”, Henry pointed out, reading from the text. Henry went back to his tanks to consider what should be done before making his chair return.
” Mr. Axelrod, I don’t know how many times in this record, I didn’t take the sheet back with me, how many days you called Mr. Young a liar”, Henry said. He acknowledged in his testimony that Helios Global held his protection, which is precisely what that document is and was exactly what he testified to.
” I think an explanation from you is clearly in order to Mr. Young for the number of days in front of this court, and streamed around the world, that you called Mr. Young a liar”, Henry said, adding he was” concerned with the level of expertise, or lack thereof”, from both parties in the complaint.
Henry also increased the fine for insults hurled from$ 100 to$ 1,000 before jurors entered the courtroom.
The Federalist’s Brianna Lyman is a journalist for votes. With a degree in International Political Economy, Brianna received her education from Fordham University. Her job has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Following Brianna on X: @briannalyman2
