Shocking new developments have unfolded in the on-going, he said, she said scandal involving former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Olivia Nuzzi.
Nuzzi, a star writer for New York Magazine, was placed on leave last month by the publication after allegations surfaced that she engaged in an in appropriate relationship with RFK, Jr. — including a series of inappropriate, sexual text messages.
Nuzzi was recently engaged to Politico’s chief Washington correspondent and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, who is now taking an abrupt leave of absence after Nuzzi accused him of harassment and blackmail in a court filing.
According to a Fox News report, it was revealed last month that Lizza and Nuzzi had previously called off their engagement when news broke that the star New York Magazine writer had been inappropriately involved with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In the court filing to Washington DC’s Superior Court on Tuesday, Nuzzi reportedly claimed in August 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.”
“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,” a Politico spokesperson told Fox News.
According to Nuzzi, who told CNN, the alleged the harassment began in July and accused Lizza of trying to blackmail her into staying together.
“She said by the next month, Lizza had stolen a personal electronic device from her, was hacking her devices, then anonymously shopping information about her to the media,” CNN reported. “Some of the information may have been ‘doctored’ to hurt her more, Nuzzi alleged, and she believes Lizza impersonated ‘an anonymous campaign operative’ to give a political campaign information that would hurt her further, according to the court records.”
Nuzzi also accused Lizza of tipping off her employer about her relationship with RFK Jr. possibly “through a third party or anonymous channel” and that he “threatened her with violence ‘to assume his share of financial responsibility’ for a joint book contract they had,” per a CNN report.
A judge granted Nuzzi’s request, temporarily barring Lizza from contacting her.
A hearing is set for Oct. 15, giving a chance for Lizza to respond in court.
“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,” Lizza told CNN.
As for Nuzzi and RFK, Jr.?
Nuzzi’s alleged relationship with RFK Jr. began late last year after she interviewed the then-independent presidential candidate, who has since suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Trump.
RFK Jr. is married to actress Cheryl Hines.
It has been reported that Nuzzi initially denied she was personally involved with RFK Jr. after being confronted by her boss, New York Magazine editor David Haskell. However, she recently admitted otherwise.
“Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal,” Nuzzi said in a statement last month.
“I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source. The relationship was never physical but 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.”
A Kennedy spokesperson also previously denied any sort of physical relationship and said he had only met Nuzzi once.
“Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece,” a Kennedy spokesperson told Fox News.
Robert F. Kennedy is reportedly considering suing Nuzzi after she “bombarded” him with nude photos, according to recent reports.
Friends of RFK, Jr. told The New York Post that Nuzzi “bombarded him with increasingly pornographic photos and videos” and would trick the former Independent presidential candidate into unblocking her cell phone numbers.