CNN Reporter Departs After ‘Fake News’ Defamation Case Costs Network Millions

Veteran CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt has left the network after eight years, just months after his reporting was linked to a defamation trial that cost CNN millions.

In January, a Florida jury found CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young in a 2021 report by Marquardt, which falsely portrayed Young as profiting off efforts to evacuate Afghans during the U.S. withdrawal. The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages before CNN settled privately, avoiding potential punitive damages estimated between $50–$100 million.

Marquardt announced his departure on X, calling his time at CNN “terrific,” but offered no details. Reports suggest “editorial differences” were behind the exit.

During the trial, evidence included internal emails where Marquardt allegedly vowed to “nail” Young. CNN defended keeping him on air, calling him a seasoned journalist. Young, however, said Marquardt never apologized and called the report a “hit piece.”

Jury members said the case met the standard for “defamation with malice.” Young’s attorney also hinted at a forthcoming lawsuit against the Associated Press for similar reporting.