Political journalist Ryan Lizza has accused his ex-fiancée, Olivia Nuzzi, a well-regarded magazine writer, of “catastrophically reckless behavior” in a year-long affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that led to their breakup this summer, according to new court filings in an ongoing legal dispute between the two.
In a recent filing with Washington, D.C.’s Superior Court, Lizza alleged that Kennedy, who was the subject of a profile by Nuzzi last year for New York Magazine, manipulated her by expressing desires to “possess,” “control,” and “impregnate” her. Lizza, Politico’s chief Washington correspondent, claimed Nuzzi shared details of the relationship with him after he ended their engagement in August.
The breakup between these prominent Washington journalists has sparked scrutiny about their professional ethics, particularly regarding their coverage of the presidential election and Kennedy, a well-known political figure. Lizza’s portrayal in the court documents paints Kennedy as a manipulator whom Nuzzi should have distanced herself from, alleging that the relationship led to both journalists facing professional consequences. Both are currently under investigation by their employers and are on leave. A representative for Kennedy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fiancé accused of hacking, threatening and stalking her
Lizza’s filings, as obtained by CNN, claim that he did not engage in actions Nuzzi has previously accused him of, such as threatening her, hacking her electronics, or stalking her. Lizza also denied informing Nuzzi’s editors about her relationship with Kennedy, emphasizing that most of what he knows about the affair came from Nuzzi herself.
The case, which has resulted in Nuzzi securing a temporary protective order against Lizza, has yet to delve deeply into these allegations. In a recent court appearance via video conference, Nuzzi was observed shaking her head as Lizza’s attorney spoke to the judge. A more extensive hearing, potentially involving witness testimony and evidence, is scheduled for mid-November.
Lizza’s attorney, Robert Barnett, declined further comment, while Nuzzi’s counsel issued a statement describing Lizza’s filings as an attempt to “harass and humiliate” Nuzzi. The statement noted that her sole objective in seeking court intervention was for safety and peace.
In his response to the court, Lizza stated that he ended their engagement upon learning of Nuzzi’s year-long affair with Kennedy. He detailed that in mid-August, he discovered what he believed was a monogamous relationship was compromised by her involvement with Kennedy. Despite Nuzzi’s attempts to reconcile, Lizza said he found the relationship irreparable and urged her to pay back a publisher’s advance for a book project the couple had planned together.
Lizza also indicated that this was the second consecutive presidential cycle in which he felt Nuzzi’s personal actions had undermined their collaborative efforts, alluding to a previous affair in 2020 without elaborating further.
