Olivia Nuzzi, a prominent political journalist, has accused her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, of orchestrating a harassment and blackmail campaign to damage her career and reputation, according to court filings made public this week. Nuzzi claims that Lizza, who is the Chief Washington Correspondent for Politico, has been threatening her and leaking personal information in an effort to destroy her life, particularly after she was linked to a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a subject she previously reported on.
In a filing submitted to Washington, D.C.'s Superior Court, Nuzzi alleges that Lizza's harassment began in mid-August, just weeks before New York magazine placed her on leave following revelations of her personal involvement with a former subject of her reporting. "He explicitly threatened to make public personal information about me to destroy my life, career, and reputation," Nuzzi stated in her filing. According to the journalist, Lizza's alleged misconduct included stealing her personal electronic device and tipping off media outlets, including her own employer, about her relationship with Kennedy.
You know what's interesting?
To be the original boyfriend to whom she used to say 'every time I go to DC this creepy guy Lizza stalks me" https://t.co/uPGJltNwGd — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 1, 2024
While Kennedy has not been named in the court documents, CNN reports that Nuzzi's personal connection to the former presidential candidate is at the heart of the scandal. Last month, New York magazine confirmed that Nuzzi was placed on leave due to an undisclosed relationship with a subject relevant to the 2024 presidential campaign. Nuzzi acknowledged in a statement that her communications with the individual had "turned personal," though she insisted that the relationship was never physical.
Nuzzi's court filings paint a disturbing picture of Lizza's behavior, alleging that he used stolen information to blackmail her into rekindling their relationship and sought to sabotage her career when she refused. She claims that Lizza anonymously leaked private details about her personal life to the media and even doctored some of the information to further harm her. Nuzzi also asserts that Lizza impersonated an "anonymous campaign operative" to provide damaging information to political campaigns.
In response to the court filings, Lizza has strongly denied the accusations. In a statement to CNN, he said, "I am saddened that my ex-fiancée would resort to making a series of false accusations against me as a way to divert attention from her own personal and professional failings. I emphatically deny these allegations and will defend myself against them vigorously and successfully."
Despite his denials, the court granted Nuzzi's request for a temporary no-contact order against Lizza, barring him from contacting her or approaching her workplace. The judge also signed off on a request allowing police to accompany Nuzzi when she retrieves her personal belongings from their shared residence. Lizza is expected to appear in court for a hearing on October 15 to formally respond to the allegations.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through the media world, with both journalists facing professional consequences as a result of their personal entanglement. On Tuesday night, Politico announced that Lizza would take a leave of absence while an internal investigation into the matter is conducted. "Politico and Ryan Lizza have mutually agreed that it is in everyone's best interest for him to step back and take a leave of absence while an investigation is conducted," the outlet said in a statement.
Nuzzi, 31, who has built a reputation as a leading political journalist covering presidential campaigns, filed a complaint with the FBI regarding Lizza's alleged harassment. However, the FBI declined to comment on the case, citing its policy on not confirming or denying any complaints or investigations.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has remained largely silent on the matter. When asked about the situation in a recent interview with Fox News, the 70-year-old political figure refused to comment, saying, "I never comment on those kind of stories." Kennedy's wife, actress Cheryl Hines, has also not addressed the allegations publicly.
As the scandal continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on both Nuzzi's and Lizza's careers. What is clear, however, is that this high-profile case has sparked a national conversation about journalistic ethics, personal relationships, and the dangers of harassment in the workplace.
