CNN's fairness guru Emma Lacey-Bordeaux defended the controversial report at the center of a high-stakes defamation trial on Wednesday when called to the witness stand.

Chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt denied that his report about security contractor Zachary Young was a “hit piece.”

As the trial in Florida enters its second week, attorneys for Zachary Young, the security consultant named in the CNN story, tried to paint the network as engaging in “theater.”

Alex Marquardt was pressed on Monday about his efforts to dig up dirt on the Navy veteran suing CNN for defamation, undercutting CNN’s defense that the plaintiff was not a central focus of the report.

CNN senior correspondent Alexander Marquardt was confronted on Monday with disparaging messages about Zachary Young, the Navy vet suing the network for defamation.