In the midst of a billion-dollar defamation trial, CNN is doing everything in its power to conceal a reporter’s promotion and increase.
The news network wants to keep reporter Alex Marquardt’s elevation to chief national security correspondent out of their impending trial, according to Knewz.com.
Two years after U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young claimed the network “destroyed his reputation” and presented a “false narrative” about him during a broadcast accusing him of being a “illegal profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans,” CNN promoted Marquardt to the important post in 2023.
CNN has now filed a request in limine to ensure that Marquardt’s promotion is excluded from the trial, claiming that the commentator’s contract discussions are “irrelevant” and need to be excluded.
The petition contended that, as Mr. Marquardt’s contract discussions and promotions took place a long time after publications, the material is not relevant to the plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages. Punitive damages can only be awarded in cases where the defendant committed purposeful misbehavior or acted with egregious negligence at the time of the alleged tort.
Vel Freedman, Young’s primary attorney, has a different perspective, believing that Marquardt’s professional background, “including promotions that postdate the events at trial,” is clearly related to his witness background.
“Bias as both a very senior CNN employee and as evidence that he has been rewarded and may be loyal” are pertinent to the case, Freeman continued.
He continued: “Moreover, the fact that CNN was aware of Marquardt s alleged misconduct in this litigation, investigated it, put his contract negotiations on hold, and then promoted him to chief national correspondent is admissible evidence that goes directly to the entitlement of punitive damages.”
In 2021, Marquardt told viewers on The Lead with Jake Tapper that “Afghans trying to get out of the country face a black market full of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.” This is what caused the pandemonium.
Young was then charged with war profiteering and human trafficking.
CNN then allegedly invoked Taliban Sharia law in August 2024 to support their comments in the episode, claiming that Young “was engaged in criminal activity when he was working to help rescue women and children from Afghanistan following U.S. withdrawal, and the Taliban sweeping back into power.”
Young launched a lawsuit after the accusations, claiming that the program falsely depicted him as a war crime profiteer by implying that he collected “exorbitant fees” on the “black market” while helping desperate Afghans escape the country.
CNN might lose $1 billion as a result of the case.
This follows accusations from Young’s attorneys that the network had also concealed important financial records in compliance with net worth discovery.
Freedman contended that although CNN had provided thousands of pages of papers, cash flow information had not been turned up.
Earlier last month, he said: “Well, we don’t have them has been CNN’s response. Your honor, it simply cannot be the case,” he continued, adding, “It simply doesn’t make sense.”
Charles Tobin, CNN’s lawyer, contended that the network did not keep a cash-flow statement or use a balance sheet to govern its operations. Additionally, he implied that they had been honest.
However, a Delaware judge ordered that Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, perform a thorough financial analysis before providing Young and his team with pertinent data.
On January 6, 2025, Young and CNN will go to trial for defamation.
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