CNN lead national security correspondent Alex Marquardt announced that he is leaving the network due to "editorial differences" after his report on Navy veteran Zachary Young led to a $5 million defamation verdict against the network.

"Some personal news: I'm leaving CNN after 8 terrific years," Marquardt wrote to followers on X late Monday morning.

"Tough to say goodbye but it’s been an honor to work among the very best in the business," he added.

Sources said Marquardt was fired, but CNN said it was a "personnel matter" and wouldn't comment publicly.

The report on Young suggested that he profited illegally from rescuing Afghans who got stuck in Afghanistan during the disastrous pullout from that country in 2021, under Joe Biden's tenure.

"We're gonna nail this Zachary Young mf**ker," texts sent from Marquardt that were used in the case against CNN read.

Young's name was used repeatedly in connection with reports that contractors were charging Afghans up to $14,000 to take them out of the country.

In fact, Young didn't take money from any Afghans to get them out of the country. Instead, he was paid for his work in doing so through corporate and nongovernmental organization sponsorships.

False reporting

In the report, Jake Tapper said about the contractors, of whom Young was identified as one, that Afghans "face[d] a black market full of promises, demand of exorbitant fees and no guarantee of safety or success."

Marquardt said in the report that an Afghan in the U.S. found people on Facebook charging $10,000 to rescue relatives.

He also said that 'desperate Afghans are now being exploited' by 'exorbitant and impossible' amounts, and the network then showed footage of a LinkedIn post by Young advertising his services.

After Young threatened legal action, CNN retracted the segment and apologized, but Young still decided to go forward and sue.

When they heard testimony from Marquardt that he didn't agree with the apology and didn't think the report was false, they found for Young.

His arrogance cost him his job, as well it should have.