Alex Marquardt, CNN’s chief national security correspondent, announced Monday he was “leaving” the news network ― but a Status report said he was “dismissed.”“Some personal news: I’m leaving CNN after 8 terrific years,” Marquardt wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Tough to say goodbye but it’s been an honor to work among the very best in the business. Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I’ve worked with in the US and abroad.”Marquardt helped to lead coverage of the war in Ukraine (where he was when Russia invaded), the Capitol insurrection, Black Lives Matter protests and other major stories in his second stint with CNN, which began in 2017. In his previous time there he was embedded in campaigns during the 2008 presidential race.But his end with the network Monday came on the heels of his reporting on a story that resulted in a damning lawsuit defeat for CNN. Marquardt was the producer on a report about the price-gouging “black market” smuggling of Afghans out of the country amid the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.Alex Marquardt, pictured at center with Liev Schreiber and Steve Clemons, is leaving CNN.Paul Morigi via Getty ImagesA U.S. Navy veteran who was mentioned in the report claimed CNN ruined his business by showing his photo on-screen. The veteran said his enterprise targeted sponsors who could afford the fees, not impoverished Afghans. In January a jury ruled he was defamed by CNN and awarded him $5 million in damages. CNN later settled with the man for what could have included further punitive damages.A CNN spokesperson confirmed Marquardt’s departure to HuffPost but declined further comment since it is a personnel matter.Former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy of Status wrote that Marquardt was abruptly fired ― which he did not mention to colleagues in a network memo. HuffPost also reached out to Marquardt early Tuesday but did not immediately hear back.Close