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CNN parts ways with correspondent whose story led to defamation lawsuit

BBG News

In simpler terms, Alex Marquardt, CNN’s main correspondent for national security issues, who faced a defamation lawsuit after a 2021 report about a military contractor, revealed on Monday that he will be leaving the network.

It was difficult to part ways, but it was a privilege to collaborate with top-notch professionals, Marquardt expressed on platform X. A heartfelt thank you goes out to my fellow team members on the National Security squad, as well as the outstanding colleagues I’ve worked alongside in the U.S. and internationally.

In early 2022, a Florida court granted ex-CIA operative Zachary Young $5 million following a jury decision that he was slandered in a report by Marquardt published in November 2021 about Afghans being overcharged for evacuation services after the U.S. military withdrawal from their country.

Discussions about compensation for damages began between CNN’s legal team and Young, eventually leading to a confidential agreement.

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The shift towards digital platforms is imminent. However, the question remains: Will consumers see sufficient worth in the CNN brand to subscribe to its online services?

As a follower reporting this news, I’ve learned that a representative from CNN chose not to share any insights regarding Marquardt’s departure, labeling it as a personal matter. However, one source within CNN, who was not permitted to speak publicly about this topic, expressed a sense of relief among many at the network that Marquardt had stepped down following the court loss.

Since the year 2017, Marquardt has taken on the role of CNN’s top national security correspondent. Prior to this position, he worked as a foreign news correspondent for ABC News.

A young individual resides in Vienna but operates a business in Florida. He recently sought $14,500 to facilitate evacuations from Afghanistan following the disorderly U.S. military exit. He stated that his assistance was exclusively available to corporate entities.

In Marqurdt’s report, the business was also discussed along with accounts from Afghans who shared their frantic attempts to flee. However, these stories did not link back to Young.

The implication in Young’s lawsuit is that his appearance in the story, which prominently displayed the term “black market,” suggested that his actions were illegal, despite Marquardt’s segment not making such an accusation directly. Notably, the term “black market” was used in the initial broadcast of the report on “The Lead With Jake Tapper,” other CNN programs, and across their website and social media platforms.

The legal team at CNN contended that the phrase “black market” is often employed to denote unregulated actions, although technically it refers to illicit activities according to standard dictionaries.

Young asserted that the story severely harmed his professional standing and financial wellbeing, reducing his yearly earnings from $350,000 to nothing, and inflicted significant emotional and mental torment on him.

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2025-06-02 20:31

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