New York Magazine political correspondent Olivia Nuzzi has been put on leave by leadership after engaging in a “personal relationship” with “a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign,” the publication announced Thursday night.
That subject is allegedly Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to reporter Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter. Per Darcy’s report, Nuzzi’s relationship with the former third party Presidential candidate did not begin until after she profiled him in November 2023.
“Recently our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi acknowledged to the magazine’s editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures,” New York Magazine said in a statement.
“Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias. She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”
A statement from Nuzzi was obtained by CNN reporter Brian Stelter. It reads, “Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal. During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source.” The statement also asserts that the relationship was “never physical,” but that it “should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict.”
“I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York,” Nuzzi’s statement concludes.
Kennedy, who suspended his campaign for President and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump in late August, has been married to actor Cheryl Hines since 2014. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star had been an active presence through Kennedy’s campaign for president.
Nuzzi and Politico’s chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza announced their engagement to one another in September 2023.
Darcy’s report stated that Kennedy would “boast” about his relationship with Nuzzi. However, in a statement released to Darcy after his piece’s initial publication, a representative for Kennedy wrote: “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”
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