Alex Marquardt, chief nationwide safety correspondent at CNN, says that he’s leaving the community after eight years.
He wrote on X, “Some private information: I’m leaving CNN after 8 terrific years. Powerful to say goodbye but it surely’s been an honor to work among the many absolute best within the enterprise. Profound thanks to my comrades on the Nationwide Safety staff & the exceptional teammates I’ve labored with within the US and overseas.”
Marquardt didn’t establish his subsequent profession transfer. A CNN spokesperson declined to remark.
Marquardt testified earlier this yr in a defamation trial towards the community in a lawsuit introduced by a safety marketing consultant, Zachary Younger. He was featured in Marquardt’s 2021 report on the exorbitant charges being demanded on the black market to evacuate Afghans in the course of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal. In a single occasion, Younger’s picture appeared on display with the chyron, “Afghans making an attempt to flee Taliban face black markets, exorbitant charges, no assure of security or success.” The choose had left it as much as the jury to determine whether or not using the time period “black market” meant unlawful or legal exercise.
A jury discovered the community responsible for defamation and awarded him $5 million. The community then reached a settlement because the trial was to enter its subsequent section.
A CNN spokesperson mentioned on the time, “We stay pleased with our journalists and are 100% dedicated to robust, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, although we’ll in fact take what helpful classes we will from this case.”
Marquardt has coated a spread of nationwide safety and overseas coverage tales, and was in Ukraine when Russia invaded in 2022. He additionally coated the January sixth revolt and the Black Lives Matter protests. Earlier than CNN, he was overseas correspondent for ABC Information based mostly in Moscow, Jerusalem, Beirut and London. Throughout an earlier stint with CNN, he was an embed reporter in the course of the 2008 presidential election.
Marquardt has gained a number of awards, together with Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards, for an undercover investigation of underage intercourse trafficking within the Phillippines.
