CNN Reporter Departs After $5M Defamation Verdict

Alex Marquardt, CNN's chief national security correspondent, has left the network following his involvement in a defamation lawsuit over a 2021 report accusing U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young of exploiting Afghans for profit during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. A Florida jury found CNN liable for defamation and emotional distress, awarding at least $5 million before CNN and Young reached an undisclosed settlement that preempted further punitive damages. Marquardt publicly described his exit as amicable, but multiple sources say it was directly linked to the lawsuit's fallout. Internal messages and disparaging communications revealed during the trial influenced the jury's decision. The case has intensified scrutiny of CNN's editorial practices and underscored the legal and reputational risks for major media outlets. Marquardt has not yet disclosed his future career plans.