CNN Editor Grilled Over 'Swiss Cheese' Afghanistan Report in Defamation Trial

Former Navy veteran Zachary Young is suing CNN for defamation, alleging their 2021 report falsely implied his involvement in a black market operation smuggling Afghans out of the country. The report aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper" and was subsequently published online.

During the trial, CNN's senior national security editor, Thomas Lumley, faced intense questioning after internal communications revealed his deep skepticism about the report's accuracy. Lumley's messages described the story as "full of holes like Swiss cheese" and "pretty flawed." He expressed concern over a "fundamental question": whether those paying exorbitant fees for evacuation were actually making it out of Afghanistan. He even suggested pausing the online publication until this question was answered.

Lumley admitted to sending the messages but attempted to downplay their significance, claiming his concerns were related to storytelling, not factual accuracy. He also stated that his criticism was directed at the online article, not the televised segment.

Young testified that he aided in the rescue of 22 women, a detail omitted from CNN's reporting. Lumley's messages indicated he pressed reporter Alex Marquardt to include information about the success rate of these evacuations.

Thomas Lumley received a draft of the print article that was written by Marquardt and responded saying, "One major thing not clear to me. Do any of the people who pay these guys actually get out of the country? I think we need a graf to explain. Is it totally hopeless?"

CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley was surprised CNN fact-checkers approved the story, according to messages he sent to colleagues.

Further messages revealed Lumley's frustration with the report, referring to it as "sh---y" and "a mess." He also noted Marquardt's anger at the criticism. Despite these internal doubts, Lumley maintained under oath that the story was "fair and accurate."

Thomas Lumley wrote, "It’d actually a good story (minus neither the digital write or TV script answering a fundamental question)."

CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley suggested the digital report be put on "pause" until a fundamental question was answered.

"The story is full of holes like Swiss cheese," Thomas Lumley wrote to CNN colleague Megan Trimble who responded, "Agree – the story is 80% emotion, 20% obscured fact lol."

CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley said in an internal message to colleagues that Alex Marquardt’s report was "not poetry" and "half a good story."

CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley called the story at the center of a high-stakes defamation trial "pretty flawed."

During cross-examination, CNN's lawyer argued Lumley's "Swiss cheese" comment was merely "imprecise language" and that his primary concern revolved around the fate of the Afghans. Lumley asserted he would never publish a story he believed to be inaccurate or unfair.