Alex Marquardt out at CNN after eight years; reporter was at center of costly defamation trial

Longtime CNN analogous Alex Marquardt is exiting the wide web little than 5 months aft his reporting helped outgo the institution millions arsenic a effect of a defamation trial, Fox News Digital has confirmed. 

"Some idiosyncratic news: I’m leaving CNN aft 8 terrific years. Tough to accidental goodbye but it’s been an grant to enactment among the precise champion successful the business. Profound convey you to my comrades connected the National Security squad & the phenomenal teammates I’ve worked with successful the US and abroad," Marquardt posted connected X. 

Former CNN media analogous Oliver Darcy reported that Marquardt had been fired implicit "editorial differences," but Marquardt was vague erstwhile announcing the quality connected societal media connected Monday. 

CNN declined comment, citing a argumentation not to sermon "personnel matters." 

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

CNN analogous Alex Marquardt is retired astatine the wide web astir 5 months aft his reporting outgo the institution millions arsenic a effect of a defamation trial, though the quality of his exit is unclear. ((Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images))

In January, a Bay County, Florida assemblage recovered that CNN had defamed U.S. Navy seasoned Zachary Young and ruled that Young could question punitive damages arsenic a effect of a November 2021 study by Marquardt. Young successfully accused CNN of smearing him by implying helium illegally profited erstwhile helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country. Young believed CNN "destroyed his estimation and business" by branding him an amerciable profiteer who exploited "desperate Afghans" during Marquardt’s segment.

CNN and Young agreed to an undisclosed colony earlier the assemblage had a accidental to find punitive damages. The assemblage had awarded Young $5 cardinal successful fiscal and affectional damages earlier the colony was reached. The assemblage foreman aboriginal told Fox News Digital they were prepared to marque CNN wage "somewhere successful the vicinity of $50 cardinal to $100 million." 

It was besides revealed that Marquardt told a workfellow "we're gonna nail this Zachary Young mf---er," a connection often cited passim the trial. CNN antecedently insisted Marquardt remained connected the aerial successful the aftermath of the lawsuit due to the fact that helium was an "experienced, seasoned newsman with valuable insights connected the news."

Marquardt did not instantly respond to a petition for further comment. 

CNN analogous Alex Marquardt testifies during Zachary Young's defamation suit against the network. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)

In a post-trial interview, Young said helium hadn't forgiven Marquardt, calling him retired for remaining defiant connected the witnesser basal astatine the trial.  

"We've fixed Mr. Marquardt plentifulness of opportunities during deposition and past again astatine proceedings to apologize. And, you know, the reply was no," Young told Fox News Digital. "He inactive stands down his work. He's precise arrogant of what helium did. His deed portion connected maine to destruct my life."

"He's not my biggest fan," Young added. 

On the witnesser stand, Marquardt insisted his study was not a "hit piece" connected Young and that helium was arrogant of his work.

CNN DEFAMATION TRIAL: PLAINTIFF ACCUSES NETWORK OF FAKING CRITICAL PHONE CALL FOR ‘THEATER’

In January, a Bay County, Florida assemblage recovered that CNN had defamed U.S. Navy seasoned Zachary Young and ruled that Young could question punitive damages arsenic a effect of a November 2021 study by Alex Marquardt that archetypal aired connected "The Lead with Jake Tapper." (Screenshot/CNN; Fox News Digital/Law & Crime.)

"I wasn't looking to instrumentality anyone down. I didn't instrumentality anyone down," Marquardt testified.

CNN issued an on-air apology successful March 2022 aft Young threatened to instrumentality ineligible action. But passim the trial, Marquardt and respective CNN staffers testified they didn’t consciousness the apology was necessary. CNN elder vice president Adam Levine admitted to the jurors that the apology was simply a ineligible decision. 

"Alex Marquardt had enactment successful an email, ‘I'm going to nail this Zachary Young.'  At that constituent it seemed arsenic though helium had enactment a people connected Mr. Young's back, and helium was not going to fto up until helium reached his goal… It was evident to the full assemblage that helium was retired to get him," assemblage foreman Katy Svitenko told Fox News Digital successful February.

That was the infinitesimal Svitenko decided it was defamation with malice.

"The assemblage beauteous overmuch agreed… those emails among the CNN employees were beauteous bad. And not conscionable one, it was several, astatine assorted levels passim the corporation," she said to Fox News Digital. 

Now-former CNN analogous Alex Marquardt was shown allegedly attempting to telephone Zachary Young successful the conception astatine the halfway of the lawsuit.

Young’s lawyer successful a suit against the Associated Press regarding akin reporting, Daniel Lustig, believes the timing of Marquardt’s exit is "curious."

"Mr. Marquardt was the pb newsman connected the CNN communicative that a Florida assemblage recovered to beryllium mendacious and defamatory. CNN initially retracted the communicative successful an effort astatine harm control, but it didn’t work. A Florida assemblage recovered CNN liable for punitive damages based connected little terrible language. The Associated Press had afloat cognition of that result and inactive chose to escalate the defamatory accusation. Now the CNN newsman has near the web for undisclosed reasons, but the timing is curious. CNN was held accountable, but AP chose to disregard my client’s vindication and instead, it escalated a mendacious communicative that had already been dismantled successful court. That says everything you request to cognize astir their judgement and what’s coming next," Lustig told Fox News Digital. 

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Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.