By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: VA Secretary Doug Collins throws lawsuit in CNN’s face during contentious interview on Signal chat leak
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
VA Secretary Doug Collins throws lawsuit in CNN’s face during contentious interview on Signal chat leak
News

VA Secretary Doug Collins throws lawsuit in CNN’s face during contentious interview on Signal chat leak

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: March 27, 2025 4:25 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published March 27, 2025
Share
SHARE

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins reprimanded CNN during a tense exchange on the network – accusing the news outlet of being “hostile” towards veterans and reminding viewers that CNN was found to have defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. 

During a Wednesday interview with CNN host Kaitlan Collins, the VA secretary refused to answer a question about Trump officials using the messaging app Signal to discuss intricate details of an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Doug Collins repeatedly claimed that he had already spoken out on the Signal controversy and stressed his interest in answering questions about his job and veterans.

CNN IMPLEMENTS NEW SCHEDULE WITHOUT MIDNIGHT SHOW PITCHED TO JIM ACOSTA, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO IT?

“I have a question as VA secretary… I want to ask you because I’ve been curious about this because my job is to take care of veterans, and I would like to know why CNN is hostile to veterans – especially one in Florida who you just had a $5 million defamation suit. Taking offense at a veteran who was trying to help people,” the secretary said.

Doug Collins then questioned if CNN is really concerned about veterans and said he would like to hear why the network “seems to have a problem” with those who have served the United States.

“Well, Mr. Secretary, respectfully, my question was about whether or not you, as a member of the cabinet, use [Signal] and respectfully, I’m conducting the investigation and I do have a lot of questions for you on veterans affairs, but I don’t think it would be what you want – ,” Kaitlan Collins said before the VA secretary interjected.

MUSK THREATENS TO SUE AFTER DEMOCRAT EX-REP JAMAAL BOWMAN CALLS HIM A ‘NAZI’ AND ‘THIEF’ DURING TV APPEARANCE

U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young alleged that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021.

“No, Kaitlan. What you want to do is talk about a subject that I’ve already answered, and If you want to continue this like this, that’s fine, but there are VA employees who are working very hard. There are veterans who get their care from the VA, and they get their benefits from the VA,” he replied.

Doug Collins then urged the CNN host to answer his questions and reveal whether the CNN employee, who in a message exchange said he would “nail” the veteran at the center of the defamation case, is still employed at the network.

A Bay County, Florida jury found that CNN committed defamation against Young and was responsible for punitive damages in January after more than eight hours of deliberation.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WRANGLES WITH CNN HOST OVER JUDGE HALTING DEPORTATION FLIGHTS

Zachary Young texts CNN

The six-person jury ruled Young was awarded $4 million in lost earnings, $1 million in personal damages such as pain and suffering and said that punitive damages are warranted against CNN. As the jury was gearing up to determine punitive damages, 14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry announced that Young and CNN had reached a settlement for the amount that would be awarded to the Navy veteran. 

Young successfully alleged that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from the country in 2021. 

Young claimed CNN “destroyed his reputation and business” by branding him an illegal profiteer” who exploited “desperate Afghans” during a November 11, 2021, report by Alex Marquardt that first aired on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”

Marquardt’s own message telling a colleague, “We’re gonna nail this Zachary Young mf—er,” was often cited throughout the trial. In another internal message shown to jurors, he wrote, “It’s your funeral bucko.” 

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: LOSING CASE EXPECTED BUT STILL A BAD BRUISE FOR THE NETWORK, INSIDER SAYS

CNN reporter Alex Marquardt

Young was thrilled to see Collins call out CNN. 

“I am grateful to Secretary Collins for calling out CNN for what they did to me and the concern he obviously has for veterans like me,” Young told Fox News Digital. 

“I was not surprised when Kaitlan simply ignored his very good question about why Marquardt would still be employed after a jury found that he and others at CNN knowingly and maliciously lied for the purpose of harming me,” Young continued. “This tracks with CNN’s unwillingness to report on my lawsuit through three years of litigation as well as their post-trial comments.” 

Marquardt remains CNN’s chief national security correspondent.

Following the trial, a spokesperson for CNN said in a statement, “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case.” 

Young believes it’s hypocritical of the network’s pundits to express concern about veterans “considering CNN deliberately and maliciously tried to ‘nail’ me and organize my ‘funeral.’” 

“I am pleased to see them called out on their own network,” Young said. 

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Harrison Ford withdraws from Oscars ceremony after shingles diagnosis

Trump takes on Hollywood, Alcatraz, calls Pope Donald image a joke

School choice activists warn parents about blue state’s homeschool bill with jail-time provision

Florida police arrest man for making ‘written threats to kill’ Trump

Liberal pundits dub Washington Post’s latest opinion shake-up a ‘terrible tragedy,’ slam Jeff Bezos

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
These wargames explored drone attacks on US military bases
Tactical

These wargames explored drone attacks on US military bases

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 25, 2025
Ancient ‘stick figures’ on beach once again visible at tourist destination
Trump’s pick for CNO faces few hurdles in confirmation hearing
AOC broke house rules to attend ritzy Met Gala in ‘tax the rich’ dress, ordered to pay up
BREAKING: 9-0 Ruling DESTROYS State Gun Control Laws – You Won’t Believe What It Says!
Pentagon freezes out DC think tanks in new move, citing ‘America last’ concerns
Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA Anti-Gun Law
Tactical

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA Anti-Gun Law

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 25, 2025
Bill Clinton Praised Epstein For His “Childlike Curiosity”
Prepping & Survival

Bill Clinton Praised Epstein For His “Childlike Curiosity”

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 25, 2025
How Much Capacity Do You Really Need?
NewsVideos

How Much Capacity Do You Really Need?

hickok45 hickok45 July 25, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?