Ryan Lizza Takes ‘Leave of Absence’ From Politico After Ex-Fiancée Olivia Nuzzi Accuses Him of Harassment and Blackmail

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Politico chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza will take a “leave of absence” from the news outlet after his former fiancée Olivia Nuzzi accused him in court of harassment and blackmail over her digital affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Lizza denies the accusations.

Semafor media reporter Max Tani reported on Tuesday that Politico and Lizza had “mutually agreed that he will take a leave of absence while an investigation is conducted” in the wake of Nuzzi’s court filing.

Nuzzi claimed in her complaint that Lizza “explicitly threatened to make public personal information about me to destroy my life, career, and reputation—a threat he has since carried out,” after learning of her digital affair with Kennedy.

Nuzzi – who is currently on leave from New York magazine amid an ongoing investigation into whether her relationship with Kennedy influenced her reporting – also accused Lizza of blackmailing her, hacking her electronic devices, and tipping off New York magazine about the affair, which she referred to simply as “the matter” in her complaint, according to CNN.

Lizza denied the allegations, telling CNN, “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 I will defend myself against them vigorously and successfully.”

While Kennedy was not explicitly mentioned in the court filing, New York magazine announced last month that Nuzzi had “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.”

That subject was quickly identified by multiple journalists and news outlets, including CNN, as Kennedy.