A prominent reporter who covered Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign has been suspended after revealing a relationship with a former subject of her reporting.
New York Magazine announced on Thursday, following a report by Status, that its Washington correspondent, Olivia Nuzzi, did not disclose a “personal relationship” with an unnamed campaign figure while reporting on the 2024 election, violating the magazine’s policies regarding personal interests impacting coverage.
The statement from the magazine indicated that if they had known about the relationship, Nuzzi would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. A review of her work showed “no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias,” according to the statement. Nuzzi is currently on leave while the magazine conducts a thorough review by an independent party. They expressed regret over this breach of trust with readers.
Although neither Nuzzi nor New York Magazine disclosed the identity of the subject, reports from Status, CNN, and the New York Times suggest that it was Kennedy. Nuzzi told The New York Times that “some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal” earlier this year. She clarified that, despite having reported on Kennedy before, she did not cover him directly during this time.
Nuzzi emphasized that the nature of their relationship was never physical but acknowledged that it should have been disclosed to avoid any appearance of a conflict, expressing deep regret for not doing so and apologizing to those she disappointed, especially her colleagues.
Stefanie Spear, a spokesperson for Kennedy, stated that “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”
Nuzzi had previously written a significant article about Kennedy in November 2023, entitled “The Mind-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Campaign,” which examined his political stance as both conservative and liberal. A recent interview she conducted with Trump was published on September 9, and the online version now includes a note referencing New York Magazine’s statement.
Kennedy, who became known for his work as an environmental lawyer and as a major figure in the anti-vaccine movement, announced last month that he would withdraw from the race and support Trump.