A prominent reporter who was covering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign has been put on leave after revealing a relationship with a former subject of her reporting. Olivia Nuzzi, a Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, admitted to failing to disclose this “personal relationship” while reporting on the 2024 election, which goes against the publication’s journalistic standards regarding conflicts of interest.
In a statement, New York Magazine indicated that had they known about the relationship, Nuzzi would not have continued her coverage of the presidential campaign. Despite this issue, the magazine reviewed her work and did not find any inaccuracies or evidence of bias.
Nuzzi is currently on leave as the magazine conducts a more in-depth third-party evaluation. They expressed regret for the breach of trust it has caused for readers. While neither Nuzzi nor New York Magazine specified the subject of her reporting, other sources have identified it as Kennedy.
In a statement to The New York Times, Nuzzi mentioned that a personal connection developed with a former reporting subject earlier this year. She clarified that although she had covered Kennedy in the past, she did not report on him directly during this period. Nuzzi emphasized that while the relationship was never physical, it should have been disclosed to avoid any perceived conflict. She expressed regret for not doing so sooner and apologized to her colleagues and readers.
Stefanie Spear, a spokesperson for Kennedy, responded by stating that Kennedy had only met Nuzzi once during an interview, which she described as a “hit piece.” Nuzzi had previously written a detailed article about Kennedy in November 2023 titled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign,” which explored his complex political stance.
Kennedy, known for his work as an environmental lawyer and his prominent role in the anti-vaccine movement, announced last month that he would be withdrawing from the presidential race to support Donald Trump.