Star journalist Olivia Nuzzi has been placed on leave by New York Magazine after it was revealed that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign. The magazine stated that had they been aware of this relationship, Nuzzi would not have been allowed to continue covering the presidential campaign due to conflicts of interest.
Nuzzi admitted to the magazine's editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while reporting on the campaign, but stated that the relationship was not physical and that she did not directly report on him or use him as a source during that time. An internal review of her published work found no inaccuracies or evidence of bias. Nuzzi expressed regret for not disclosing the relationship sooner and apologized to her colleagues at New York Magazine.
Kennedy's endorsement of former President Donald Trump has caused concern among Democrats, leading to efforts to keep him on the ballot in swing states like Michigan and North Carolina in order to hinder his ability to transfer his voters to Trump.
Nuzzi's previous work includes a profile of RFK Jr. in which she quoted him criticizing Democrats for not having a strong reason to vote for President Biden other than fear of Trump. She also speculated that Kennedy's candidacy as an independent could disrupt the presidential election and weaken Biden, potentially benefiting Trump.
In addition to New York Magazine, Nuzzi has written for various publications including GQ, Esquire, The Daily Beast, Glamour, The Washington Post, and POLITICO. The magazine is currently conducting a more thorough third-party review of Nuzzi's work while she remains on leave.