Overview

• Marquardt’s 2021 segment on private contractors charging high fees to evacuate Afghans featured Zachary Young under a “black market” chyron implying illegal profiteering.
• A Florida jury ruled in January that CNN defamed Young, awarding him $5 million in compensatory damages before the network reached an undisclosed settlement.
• Court records revealed internal messages in which Marquardt and colleagues vowed to “nail” Young and used derogatory language, underpinning the jury’s actual malice finding.
• CNN has defended its commitment to strong, fair reporting and said it will take useful lessons from the verdict.
• Young’s attorney described the timing of Marquardt’s exit as “curious,” while CNN has declined to comment on any link between the lawsuit and his departure.