Reporter Olivia Nuzzi Takes Leave Following Alleged Personal Relationship with RFK Jr.

A leading political writer for New York magazine, Olivia Nuzzi, has taken leave following revelations of an alleged personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure from the Kennedy family who ran an independent presidential campaign before endorsing Donald Trump.

Nuzzi, known for her in-depth political coverage, including extensive reporting on RFK Jr., reportedly breached the magazine’s conflict of interest guidelines by not disclosing the relationship. In a statement, the publication addressed the situation:

“Our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi informed editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while reporting on it, which violated the magazine’s conflict of interest and disclosure standards,” New York magazine stated.

The magazine clarified that had the relationship been disclosed earlier, Nuzzi would not have been allowed to continue covering the presidential campaign. However, an internal review found no inaccuracies or bias in her published work. Nuzzi is currently on leave, and the publication is conducting a thorough third-party review. “We regret this breach of trust with our readers,” the statement concluded.

Nuzzi confirmed the relationship but emphasized it was non-physical and developed only after her reporting on Kennedy's failed presidential bid.

Nuzzi stated that "earlier this year, some communication between myself and a former reporting subject became personal."

"During that period, I did not report on the subject or use them as a source," she explained. "Though the relationship was never physical, I should have disclosed it to avoid any appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so right away and apologize to those I’ve let down, especially my colleagues at New York."

A spokesperson for RFK Jr. told CNN that Kennedy "only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which resulted in a hit piece."

RFK Jr., the son of Robert F. Kennedy—who was assassinated in 1968 while running for the Democratic presidential nomination, five years after the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy—launched an independent campaign for the 2024 election. However, the campaign struggled to gain traction, with Kennedy's extreme positions on issues like vaccinations alienating many mainstream voters.

Nuzzi has risen to prominence as a high-profile journalist and television commentator. In one of her most recent articles, she interviewed Donald Trump, where the former president invited her to inspect his ear, which he claimed was injured in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Reflecting on the moment, she wrote, "An ear had never appeared to have gone through less."