CNN reporter Alex Marquardt took the stand on Monday, marking the sixth day of the network’s Florida defamation trial, brought by U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young over a report about his efforts to aid in the evacuation of Afghan citizens.
Marquardt stated on the stand that he had pitched a story to the network about desperate Afghans fleeing the Taliban — which resulted in a piece that went to air with claims that Young had “preyed” on the people and “exploited” their desperation to make a quick buck.
During Young’s testimony late last week, the Navy veteran explained that he had only worked with Afghans who had corporate sponsors who were able to pay the costs associated with the evacuations — which were often complicated and dangerous — but Marquardt still went ahead with a story that suggested he was essentially extorting individual citizens.
Despite Young’s…
