A prominent Washington journalist's personal relationship with a political figure leads to a high-profile departure from a major publication.
According to The Washington Post, New York magazine and its Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi have mutually agreed to end their professional relationship following revelations about her personal connection with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The separation comes after two separate investigations into Nuzzi's published work during the 2024 campaign season, including one conducted by the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine. Both reviews found no evidence of inaccuracies or bias in her reporting.
The magazine initially conducted an internal review of Nuzzi's campaign coverage before enlisting external legal expertise. Despite both investigations clearing her work of any impropriety, the publication and Nuzzi determined that separation was the appropriate course of action.
Through her attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, Nuzzi expressed satisfaction with the investigation results while acknowledging the end of her nearly eight-year tenure at the magazine. The 31-year-old journalist had established herself as a notable voice in political reporting during the Trump era.
The controversy emerged in September when Nuzzi disclosed a "personal" but non-physical relationship with a subject from her November 2023 profile piece. The subject was later confirmed to be Kennedy, who has since abandoned his presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.
Kennedy's camp responded to the revelation by stating that their interaction was limited to a single interview requested by Nuzzi, which resulted in what they characterized as unfavorable coverage.
New York magazine issued a public apology to readers, acknowledging that had they known about the relationship, Nuzzi would have been removed from campaign coverage. The magazine's editor stated:
Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. … We regret this violation of our readers' trust.
The situation has become further complicated by Nuzzi's personal life, specifically involving her former fiancé Ryan Lizza, Politico's chief Washington correspondent.
On October 1, Nuzzi secured a temporary protective order against Lizza, citing allegations of blackmail, harassment, and threats of violence. The court will decide on a more permanent protective order on November 19.
Lizza has strongly denied these allegations through both public statements and legal filings, describing them as "disgraceful lies" and part of a coordinated effort to damage his reputation. He has taken a leave of absence from Politico while the publication investigates the matter.
Nuzzi's attorney, Andrew Jezic, maintains that his client's legal actions are solely focused on ensuring her safety and privacy. The situation has prompted Politico to launch its own investigation into Lizza's conduct.
The departure of one of political journalism's rising stars from New York magazine marks a significant shift in contemporary political reporting. Olivia Nuzzi's separation from New York magazine follows multiple investigations into her work during the 2024 campaign season. Personal relationships with a profile subject led to scrutiny of her reporting practices. A complex legal situation involving her former fiancé has added another dimension to the controversy. The episode has resulted in both Nuzzi's departure and ongoing investigations at multiple media organizations.
