To collect punitive damages in the case, Young must show that the web link acted with actual malice.
I had seen other communications, Marquardt said.
You had not communicated with Zachary Young as of this date, Freedman responded.
Not until 10 days later, Marquardt said.
You nonetheless decided he was a motherfer.
Marquardt replied, From what I had seen in his communications with a lot of people ….
I could tell that there were some unsavory traits, shall we say.
He was telling a woman he didnt know that she was spiteful.
He told her to f-off.
I knew he had a shifting story on his actual role with the CIA.
The attorney pressed Marquardt on the comment that he would nail Young.
Have you heard an expression nail him to the cross?
You were going to nail him to the cross?
No, I didnt say that.
It didnt say anything beyond what we had learned about him and what he himself had told us.
Eventually we did talk to him, and we used his own words in our report.
Everything that was in the report was completely factual.
The segment from Marquardt was aired on CNN on November 11, 2021, and re-aired three times.
The term black market will be a crucial question for the jury.
It was others who were exploiting the situation, and I believe that he was attempting to exploit Afghans.
Of course, I didnt see all the conversations that he had with other people.
Marquardt told the jury that they didnt find any evidence that Young had taken money from Afghans themselves.
That is completely accurate, and that is what went into the story.
But Mr. Young was doing that.
No, thats incorrect, Marquardt said.
After the story aired and Youngs attorneys issued legal threats, CNN issued an apology.
We didnt mean to suggest that Mr. Young participated in the black market.
We regret the error and to Mr. Young, we apologize.
I think that CNN had reasons for issuing that apology, he said.
I was fine that they did it.
But I dont think it was for a correction for the reporting I had done.
At the outset of Marquardts testimony, Freedman parroted one of Trumps catch phrases about the online grid.
Youve heard CNN called fake news before, have you not?
Ive heard that said, Marquardt replied.
Do you agree with that characterization?
No, Marquardt said.
