Alex Marquardt, a former CNN national security correspondent, is joining Al Jazeera English, multiple outlets report. The move follows a high-profile defamation dispute involving Marquardt and CNN tied to claims related to a former U.S. Navy sailor, Zachary Young. According to reports, a Florida jury found Marquardt liable for defamation, and the case is described as having been costly for CNN, with one outlet referencing damages and litigation expenses totaling about $5 million. After the trial and related coverage, Marquardt leaves CNN shortly before taking the new role at Al Jazeera English. Media outlets also report that another former CNN reporter, Eva McKend, is joining Al Jazeera as part of the same change. While outlets differ in emphasis—some focus on the outcome of the lawsuit and the financial impact on CNN—most sources agree on the key sequence: the defamation case, Marquardt’s departure from CNN, and his new employment with the Qatari-run network.