Following a successful defamation lawsuit against CNN, U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young spoke with Fox News Digital about the journalist whose reporting led to the legal battle. CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt has continued to appear regularly on the network despite the lawsuit's outcome, which saw a Florida jury award Young $5 million in damages before a settlement was reached. CNN defended Marquardt's continued presence on air, citing his experience and insights. Young expressed his disappointment with Marquardt's lack of remorse, stating that the reporter remained proud of his work despite the court's decision. Marquardt, in his trial testimony, denied that his reporting was intended to harm Young. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2021 CNN segment that Young claimed falsely portrayed him as illegally profiting from assisting Afghan refugees during the U.S. military withdrawal. During the trial, internal CNN communications revealed hostile sentiments towards Young among staff members. Despite the verdict, Marquardt was promoted to chief national security correspondent in 2023, a detail withheld from the jury during the proceedings. Katie Bo Lillis, another CNN reporter involved in the story, has also continued to publish articles on the network's website.

CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt has appeared on air multiple times since the network lost the defamation lawsuit. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)

Zachary Young expressed his lack of forgiveness for Marquardt. (Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox News Digital; Jessica Costescu)

The 2021 CNN segment that sparked the defamation case. (CNN/Screenshot)