Ex-CNN reporter at center of $5M defamation case lands at Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera English is hiring an ex-CNN reporter who left the outlet after losing a $5 million defamation case brought by a former Navy sailor.The Qatar-based news network tapped CNN’s former chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt to anchor its coverage of America’s 250th anniversary before taking over the network’s Washington-based daily program, “This Is America.”The broadcaster also hired former CNN national politics correspondent Eva McKend as a Washington correspondent.Marquardt unveiled his new role in a video filmed from a rooftop overlooking the US Capitol, telling viewers: “I’ve just joined Al Jazeera, and I’m going to be anchoring the coverage of the US two hundred and fiftieth anniversary from up here … for the next few days.”After leading coverage of the Fourth of July weekend, Marquardt said he will become the regular presenter of Al Jazeera English’s Washington-based daily program, “This Is America.”Marquardt, who spent eight years at CNN, praised his new employer in the announcement.“I’ve been a huge fan of Al Jazeera’s for a very long time.They do some of the very best reporting from all around the world.

Really excited to get started here,” he said.CNN dropped Marquardt last year after a jury ruled that he defamed Zachary Young in 2021 by claiming the former sailor illegally exploited Afghans during the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from the country.According to the Status newsletter, CNN informed Marquardt that he was being let go over unspecified “editorial differences” after conducting a post-settlement ethics review, though the network declined to comment publicly because it was a personnel matter.Young sued CNN after alleging the network falsely portrayed him as a “black market” profiteer who exploited desperate Afghans during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.In fact, he worked with corporate sponsors and nonprofit organizations to facilitate evacuations, Young said.Mar...