Alex Marquardt's exit from CNN 'obviously' tied to network's costly defamation trial, insiders say

CNN parted ways with its main nationalist information correspondent, Alex Marquardt, Monday and galore of his now-former colleagues accidental it's "obviously" tied to the network's costly defamation proceedings earlier this year. 

"Obviously, the tribunal lawsuit is simply a halfway crushed why, that is obvious," 1 CNN insider told Fox News Digital. 

Marquardt was astatine the halfway of a defamation lawsuit brought against him and CNN successful January by U.S. Navy seasoned Zachary Young. A Florida assemblage recovered that CNN defamed Young and ruled that helium could question punitive damages arsenic a effect of a November 2021 study by Marquardt. The study branded Young arsenic a shady profiteer who exploited "desperate Afghans" trying to fly Afghanistan during the Biden administration's chaotic subject withdrawal from the Taliban-run country, implying Young was operating connected a "black market." 

ALEX MARQUARDT OUT AT CNN AFTER EIGHT YEARS; REPORTER WAS AS THE CENTER OF COSTLY DEFAMATION TRIAL

Alex Marquardt was the pb analogous for CNN's defamatory study astir U.S. Navy seasoned Zachary Young. (CNN/Screenshot)

The assemblage had initially awarded Young $5 cardinal successful fiscal and affectional damages earlier Young and CNN reached an undisclosed settlement, suggesting the web gave Young importantly much money. The assemblage foreman later told Fox News Digital they were prepared to marque CNN wage "somewhere successful the vicinity of $50 cardinal to $100 million" successful punitive damages. 

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"He has not done thing other that is wrong. So if helium was terminated, that has to beryllium a halfway crushed why. It's conscionable the logical thing," the CNN staffer said. 

Despite the certainty among CNN unit that Marquardt's departure was straight linked to Young's settlement, they remained puzzled by the timing since it came astir 5 months aft the trial. 

The archetypal staffer said, "I'm not definite however overmuch strategizing is going into things these days."

It seemed similar Marquardt was successful bully lasting with CNN adjacent aft the proceedings arsenic helium continued making regular on-air appearances, astir precocious past Tuesday. He adjacent served arsenic a fill-in anchor connected Memorial Day.

"Alex is connected our aerial due to the fact that helium is an experienced, seasoned newsman with valuable insights connected the news," a CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital successful precocious January aft the trial. 

But according to the Status newsletter, Marquardt's dismissal was the effect of a "post-settlement morals compliance review" launched by CNN earlier this twelvemonth successful which helium and others progressive successful the defamatory study were interviewed. Marquardt was informed astir the network's determination connected Friday, citing "unspecified editorial differences."

U.S. Navy seasoned Zachary Young settled with CNN for an undisclosed magnitude aft a assemblage recovered helium was defamed by the network. (Jessica Costescu)

The barroom for proving defamation successful tribunal is historically precocious arsenic galore lawsuits are either dismissed oregon effect successful a colony earlier going to trial. Young's suit against CNN was a uncommon lawsuit wherever a assemblage did find the web liable for defamation, yet a colony was aboriginal reached. Perhaps it was due to the fact that of the damning grounds Young's ineligible squad gathered during discovery, overmuch of it involving Marquardt himself. 

"[W]e gonna nail this Zachary Young mf---er," Marquardt told a workfellow successful a 2021 connection speech earlier finishing the report. That remark was repeatedly referenced by Young's attorneys passim the trial. 

"I ever thought helium was a professional. But those interior messages near CNN with nary different choice," a 2nd CNN staffer told Fox News Digital. 

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The assemblage saw an speech wherever Alex Marquardt told a CNN colleague, "We gonna nail this Zachary Young mf---r," to which the workfellow replied, "Gonna clasp you to that 1 cowboy!"

The 2nd CNN staffer insisted, "It's hard successful my caput not to marque a connection" betwixt Marquardt's abrupt exit and the defamation trial.  

"He was a main correspondent. A chief. There was nary nonstop off. Nothing similar that astatine all. It each went into the quiescent goodnight," the 2nd CNN insider said. "He was a large newsman successful the field, truly bully successful warfare zones. That's what makes it a shame." 

Marquardt was vague astir his abrupt exit from CNN, posting connected X, "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."

CNN declined to comment, citing a argumentation not to sermon "personnel matters." The web did not respond to further requests for comment. Marquardt did not respond to requests for comment. 

Alex Marquardt near CNN aft 8 years; galore of his erstwhile colleagues judge it's straight related to the network's defamation proceedings earlier successful January. ((Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images))

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.

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

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Marquardt stood by his study astir Zachary Young portion taking the witnesser basal during CNN's defamation trial. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)

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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. 

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.