A Navy veteran’s legal victory has cost CNN a reporter and a hefty $5 million, according to The Daily Wire.
Alex Marquardt, a CNN journalist, announced his departure after eight years, following a defamation lawsuit loss to U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young.
The network was ordered to pay millions in damages for a story that painted Young as a profiteer during Afghanistan’s chaotic evacuation.
Marquardt, previously with ABC News, joined CNN to cover national security. His reporting on private contractors aiding evacuations after President Joe Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal sparked the controversy. Young, one of those contractors, became the target of Marquardt’s pen.
Marquardt’s report portrayed Young as exploiting desperate families seeking to flee Afghanistan.
The story, aired during a time of national frustration, aimed for drama but landed in court. Young warned Marquardt that legal action was coming, and he wasn’t bluffing.
Young’s attorney, Kyle Roche, called CNN’s reporting “reckless” in court. “They didn’t care about the truth. They cared about theater and they cared about ratings,” Roche said.
Roche’s words sting because they ring true. CNN’s pursuit of clicks over facts led to a $5 million payout for economic and emotional damages. Punitive damages were also awarded, though the amount remains undisclosed.
Internal CNN messages revealed even editors doubted Marquardt’s work. One described the report as “full of holes like Swiss cheese.” Another called it “80 percent emotion and 20 percent obscured fact.”
Text messages between Marquardt, Young, and CNN colleagues showed the reporter’s dogged pursuit of the story. Young’s pleas for fairness fell on deaf ears. Actions, it seems, have consequences.
The lawsuit’s fallout has now reshaped Marquardt’s career. He announced his exit on Monday, calling his CNN tenure “terrific” despite the controversy. One wonders if he truly believes that.
“Some personal news: I’m leaving CNN after 発生
“Some personal news: I’m leaving CNN after 8 terrific years,” Marquardt wrote on Monday. Tough to say goodbye, but it’s been an honor to work among the very best in the business.” His gratitude feels hollow when weighed against the damage done.
Marquardt’s departure leaves CNN licking its wounds and Young vindicated. The $5 million judgment, plus undisclosed punitive damages, sends a clear message: truth matters. Sloppy reporting can’t hide behind “journalistic freedom.”
The case exposes the media’s obsession with narrative over facts. When editors admit a story is “80 percent emotion,” you know the line between news and entertainment has blurred. It’s a wake-up call for an industry that’s lost its way.
Young’s victory isn’t just personal—it’s a warning to media outlets chasing sensationalism. Defamation suits are no joke, and juries aren’t buying excuses. CNN’s loss is a reminder to check your facts or pay the price.
Marquardt hasn’t shared his next move, and perhaps that’s wise. After this debacle, a low profile might be the best strategy. The conservative call for accountability in media just got a big win.
