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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Alex Marquardt, and how a defamation case cost CNN nearly $5 million
CNN's chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt announced his departure from the network on Monday, ending an eight-year tenure marked by both high-profile reporting and a costly legal controversy. Marquardt did not mention the defamation lawsuit that shadowed his final months at CNN, nor the reasons behind his exit, in a brief farewell message posted on X. 'Tough to say goodbye but it's been an honor to work among the very best in the business,' he wrote. 'Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I've worked with in the US and abroad.' — MarquardtA (@MarquardtA) Defamation case and fallout Earlier this year, a Florida jury awarded $5 million to former CIA operative and US Navy veteran Zachary Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation over a 2021 report by Marquardt. The segment aired on 'The Lead with Jake Tapper' and alleged that desperate Afghans were being exploited by a 'black market' charging exorbitant fees to facilitate evacuation after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The controversy centred on Young, the only contractor named in the piece, who was portrayed as part of this black market. The on-screen banner and other promotional material implied illegal behaviour, although the report itself did not explicitly accuse Young of wrongdoing. Young's lawsuit argued that the story ruined his reputation, destroyed his $350,000 annual income, and caused severe emotional distress. Young maintained his business only helped corporate sponsors and did not exploit individuals. Marquardt's report cited Afghans and activists claiming people were charging 'impossible' sums—up to $10,000 per person—to evacuate, referencing a LinkedIn post from Young and texts between Young and others. CNN initially stood by the report but later issued a correction stating it 'did not intend to suggest that Mr Young participated in a black market.' This, however, did not satisfy Young, who filed suit. Live Events Internal messages and legal consequences Court records revealed troubling internal communications between Marquardt and colleagues. Marquardt called Young a 'Zach Young motherf—er' he was going to 'nail.' Another producer described Young as having a 'punchable face.' These messages were a key factor in the jury's decision that CNN acted with 'actual malice,' a legal standard easier to meet since Young was not a public figure. Marquardt defended his work during the trial, insisting: 'I reported the facts. I reported what I found. Everything in there was factual, accurate and, I believe, fair.' He also contested that the legal team pushed the network to issue the correction to avoid a lawsuit. The jury's decision came after less than nine hours of deliberation during a two-week trial in Panama City, Florida. Following the verdict, CNN and Young reached an undisclosed settlement just as the trial was about to enter a punitive damages phase that could have added millions more to the cost. Departure and network reaction Sources close to CNN told former media correspondent Oliver Darcy that Marquardt's exit was linked to 'editorial differences' with network leadership, a phrase often signalling internal disputes. CNN declined to comment on the circumstances, calling the matter 'personnel-related.' The legal battle and negative publicity come at a difficult time for CNN, which has faced harsh criticism from conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the network's credibility. The case drew comparisons to a similar defamation lawsuit settled by ABC News for $15 million with Trump. A CNN spokesperson said after the verdict, 'We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case.' Before joining CNN, Marquardt worked as a foreign correspondent for ABC News in Moscow, Jerusalem, Beirut, and London. He has won multiple accolades, including Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for investigations into underage sex trafficking in the Philippines. At CNN, he was promoted to chief national security correspondent in late 2023 and often anchored major coverage, including the Russian-Ukrainian war. His departure marks the end of a turbulent chapter for CNN, underscoring the risks networks face when reporting on sensitive national security issues in an increasingly polarised media environment.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CNN reporter Alex Marquardt exits after network lost $5M defamation case against Navy veteran
A CNN correspondent at the center of a nefarious report that cost the network at least $5 million for defaming a US Navy veteran is leaving the struggling network. Chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt landed in hot water earlier this year after a Florida jury ruled that he defamed Zachary Young in 2021 by claiming the former soldier illegally exploited Afghans during the Biden administration's disastrous withdrawal from the country. Sources told former CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy that Marquardt was fired — citing 'editorial differences' with his higher-ups at the network. Marquardt — who worked at CNN for eight years and recently spearheaded its coverage of the Russian-Ukraine war — did not mention the legal debacle or the reason for his exit in announcing the departure Monday. 'Tough to say goodbye but it's been an honor to work among the very best in the business,' Marquardt wrote in a post on X. 'Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I've worked with in the US and abroad.' CNN declined to comment. In January, a Florida jury awarded Young $5 million after deliberating less than nine hours following a two-week trial in Panama City state court. An undisclosed settlement was reached to resolve the matter before jurors calculated punitive damages, which could've added millions more to the total award. The verdict added fuel to President Trump's fiery criticism that CNN is biased. During the trial, it was revealed that the ratings-challenged network ignored evidence that countered its narrative. In a damning message to a CNN colleague, Marquardt wrote that CNN is going to 'nail this Zach Young motherf—er,' according to court records. A producer said that the plaintiff had a 'punchable face.' The segment, which aired on Jake Tapper's program 'The Lead,' described the US government's evacuation of citizens. It went on to say Afghans 'trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demand of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.' The segment then turned to Marquardt, who described the situation of a man located in the US whose family remained in Afghanistan and said that he found people on Facebook charging $10,000 per person to be evacuated. Marquardt stated, 'according to Afghans and activists we've spoken with, desperate Afghans are now being exploited' because of the 'exorbitant' and 'impossible' amounts charged, pointing to a LinkedIn post from Young advertising his services and texts between him and people inquiring about his business. CNN stood by Marquardt after the verdict. 'We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case,' the network said at the time. Marquardt previously worked as a foreign correspondent for ABC News based in Moscow, Jerusalem, Beirut and London. He has won multiple honors, including Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for an undercover investigation of underage sex trafficking in the Philippines.
New York Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
CNN reporter Alex Marquardt exits after network lost $5M defamation case against Navy veteran
A CNN correspondent at the center of a nefarious report that cost the network at least $5 million for defaming a US Navy veteran is leaving the struggling network. Chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt landed in hot water earlier this year after a Florida jury ruled that he defamed Zachary Young in 2021 by claiming the former soldier illegally exploited Afghans during the Biden administration's disastrous withdrawal from the country. Sources told former CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy that Marquardt was fired — citing 'editorial differences' with his higher-ups at the network. Marquardt — who worked at CNN for eight years and recently spearheaded its coverage of the Russian-Ukraine war — did not mention the legal debacle or the reason for his exit in announcing the departure Monday. 5 CNN chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt said he is leaving the network after 8 years. Jeremy Freeman/CNN 'Tough to say goodbye but it's been an honor to work among the very best in the business,' Marquardt wrote in a post on X. 'Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I've worked with in the US and abroad.' CNN declined to comment. In January, a Florida jury awarded Young $5 million after deliberating less than nine hours following a two-week trial in Panama City state court. An undisclosed settlement was reached to resolve the matter before jurors calculated punitive damages, which could've added millions more to the total award. The verdict added fuel to President Trump's fiery criticism that CNN is biased. During the trial, it was revealed that the ratings-challenged network ignored evidence that countered its narrative. In a damning message to a CNN colleague, Marquardt wrote that CNN is going to 'nail this Zach Young motherf—er,' according to court records. A producer said that the plaintiff had a 'punchable face.' 5 Marquardt landed in hot water earlier this year after his 2021 report, which defamed Navy vet Zachary Young over claims he illegally exploited Afghans. CNN 5 An undated picture of US Navy veteran Young. FOX News The segment, which aired on Jake Tapper's program 'The Lead,' described the US government's evacuation of citizens. It went on to say Afghans 'trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demand of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.' The segment then turned to Marquardt, who described the situation of a man located in the US whose family remained in Afghanistan and said that he found people on Facebook charging $10,000 per person to be evacuated. 5 Marquardt's report cost CNN at least $5 million. CNN Marquardt stated, 'according to Afghans and activists we've spoken with, desperate Afghans are now being exploited' because of the 'exorbitant' and 'impossible' amounts charged, pointing to a LinkedIn post from Young advertising his services and texts between him and people inquiring about his business. CNN stood by Marquardt after the verdict. 'We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case,' the network said at the time. Marquardt previously worked as a foreign correspondent for ABC News based in Moscow, Jerusalem, Beirut and London. He has won multiple honors, including Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for an undercover investigation of underage sex trafficking in the Philippines.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CNN parts ways with correspondent months after his story cost network millions in defamation suit
Months after his story on a security contractor in Afghanistan resulted in the network paying out millions of dollars to settle a defamation lawsuit, Alex Marquardt announced he was departing CNN as its chief national correspondent. 'Some personal news: I'm leaving CNN after eight terrific years,' Marquardt tweeted on Monday. 'Tough to say goodbye but it's been an honor to work among the very best in the business. Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I've worked with in the US and abroad.' Marquardt's public acknowledgment that he was leaving the network came just as Status News founder Oliver Darcy, a former CNN colleague of the veteran correspondent, reported that CNN had dismissed Marquardt over 'editorial differences.' A CNN spokesperson declined to comment on what led to Marquardt's departure, stating that the network does 'not comment on personnel matters.' The spokesperson, however, did state that Marquardt's tweet saying he was leaving CNN was accurate. Earlier this year, however, an investigative story that Marquardt produced and reported about private contractors charging exorbitant fees to desperate refugees looking to flee war-torn Afghanistan was at the center of a defamation complaint filed by Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran who was the only contractor named in the piece. According to Young's lawsuit, the story – which first ran in 2021 – falsely tied him to 'black market' operations in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American forces from the country. He noted that Marquardt's report suggested that his activities were criminal, leading to his inability to make a living as his reputation had been destroyed. Young testified that his business only charged corporate sponsors to evacuate Afghans and did not target individual residents. While the story itself didn't explicitly accuse Young of criminal behavior, on-air graphics when the report was featured on The Lead with Jake Tapper included the term 'black market,' which eventually led the network to issue an apology the following year. However, CNN's correction stating that it 'did not intend to suggest that Mr. Young participated in a black market' was not sufficient for Young, who soon filed his lawsuit against the network. After two days of deliberations following a trial that took place in a deeply conservative Florida district, a jury found CNN liable for defamation and awarded Young $4 million in financial damages and $1 million for emotional damage. The network then reached a settlement with Young for an undisclosed amount as the trial was set to enter the second phase to determine punitive damages. Marquardt, along with several other network employees, testified during the two-week trial. For his part, he maintained that CNN's initial correction to the story was unnecessary and that it was only done at the behest of the outlet's legal team in hopes of avoiding a lawsuit. 'I reported the facts. I reported what I found. Everything in there was factual, accurate and, I believe, fair,' Marquardt said during the trial, objecting to Young's legal team describing the story as a 'hit piece' against the plaintiff. 'You needed a bad guy for your scandal story,' Young's attorney Devin Freedman asked Marquardt at one point. 'You hated him, did you not?' In the end, it may have been the Slack messages and emails from Marquardt to other editors about the story that were presented in court that sealed the trial's fate. Marquardt and other CNN staffers referred to Young as a 'sh*tbag' with a 'punchable face,' with the now-former CNN correspondent saying he was 'gonna nail this Zachary Young mf***er.' Following the verdict and settlement, a CNN spokesperson told The Independent: 'We remain proud of our journalists and are 100 percent committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case.' Reacting to Marquardt's departure from the network, an attorney for Young said that his client 'believes the universe tends to reconcile things in its own time' and that 'some outcomes speak for themselves.' Marquardt, who briefly served as a campaign reporter for CNN in 2008, returned to the network nearly a decade later and was eventually promoted to chief national security correspondent in late 2023. Marquardt also occasionally filled in as an anchor. The case also came at a very perilous time for news organizations, especially as the general public – and particularly conservatives – had grown increasingly discontent with legacy media outlets. With the trial taking place just weeks after ABC News paid Donald Trump $15 million to settle his defamation lawsuit, legal experts urged CNN to reach a settlement with Young, mainly in light of the 'damning' text messages from Marquardt that had been made public. Additionally, a judge ruled that the burden of proof was lower to prove CNN acted with 'actual malice' because Young was not a public figure. 'My advice to CNN would be to cough it up. Settle,' former Bloomberg News media legal counsel Charles Glasser said. 'Admit you're wrong. Admit your hyperbole was out of line, and move on.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jake Tapper's CNN ‘ratings drop' as he ‘pimps' Biden book
Jake Tapper, the co-author of an explosive book claiming the White House covered up Joe Biden's cognitive decline, is haemorrhaging viewers on his CNN show, it has been claimed. Media analysts attributed the apparent decline to the relentless hawking of his book Original Sin by Mr Tapper and Alex Thompson of Axios. According to the Nielsen Ratings, The Lead, Mr Tapper's daily show averaged 525,000 viewers from April 28 to May 5, representing a 25 per cent drop on the same period last year. 'Tapper is saying in his new book, we saw what was going on, but we didn't tell you,' Andrew Selepak, media professor at Florida University, told The Telegraph. 'Well, that kind of blows up any credibility. And if you're looking at a news host to get news from, they basically are now telling you I wasn't really giving you the news.' 'There's not a lot of interest in consuming that content,' he added. 'That lack of credibility makes you go, why should I continue to consume you? If I'm not going to get the truth from you, I might as well watch Netflix.' Other factors have also contributed to plummeting Nielsen ratings. Some of the decline can be attributed to more viewers 'cutting the cord' and watching the show through streaming services, and the figures do not include viewers outside the US. Greater political polarisation has also been a factor, according to Prof Selepak, with MSNBC attracting viewers from the Left and Fox from the Right at CNN's expense. However, there is also evidence of public disenchantment at the amount of publicity given to the book, on social media. Liberal journalist Glenn Greenwald was scathing on X. He ridiculed Mr Tapper for having woken up after 30 years in journalism and realised 'the first axiom of Journalism 101: politicians and governments lie and journalists shouldn't blindly believe them'. Another X user, Doug Wright, imagined a CNN production meeting. 'Everyone pimp the book into every news story no matter how irrelevant. Remember, you get paid by the book mentioned.' Comedian Jon Stewart could scarcely hide his disdain. 'How do you pivot from excitedly promoting your anchor's book to sombrely and respectfully promoting your anchor's book? 'You frame this news as even more of an excuse to buy this book. Some observers might think, do these CNN people work on commission?' Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told The Telegraph that Mr Tapper was paying the price for his relentless search for publicity for his book. 'Tapper has been promoting his book about Biden non-stop. And again, I think if you are a Democrat who liked Biden, you're probably not enjoying that very much. 'And it probably seems disproportionate. You've got all the Trump stuff going on, you've got all the Doge stuff, all the tariffs, all the deportations. 'Just go down the whole list of stuff Trump is up to, and Tapper's main focus seems to be relitigating the fact that Joe Biden was old.' A CNN spokesman told The Telegraph: 'The award-winning program The Lead with Jake Tapper reaches broad global audiences across CNN, CNN International and Max's streaming platform. 'No single metric can capture the true reach and impact of a programme driving the national conversation.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
