A top politics writer for New York magazine has taken leave at the publication after it emerged that she allegedly had a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a scion of the Kennedy dynasty who ran a high-profile independent campaign for the White House before endorsing Donald Trump.

Olivia Nuzzi, who has written extensive long-form pieces about US politics, including RFK Jr, violated the magazine’s standards around disclosing conflicts of interests, the publication said in a statement.

“Our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi 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, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures,” New York said.

It added: “Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias. She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”

In a statement Nuzzi acknowledged the relationship but said it had not been a physical one and that it had developed after Nuzzi had written a piece about Kennedy and his quixotic and ultimately doomed run for the White House.

Nuzzi said that “the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal” earlier this year.

“During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source,” she said. “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.”

The magazine said in a statement that Nuzzi had violated its standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures by engaging in a relationship with a “former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign” while reporting on the election.

A spokesperson for RFK Jr told CNN that Kennedy “only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece”.

In a note to readers, New York magazine said Nuzzi is “currently on leave,” and the publication is “conducting a more thorough third-party review.”

The magazine also said that “an internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias.” Still, the magazine said, “we regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”

Nuzzi penned a profile of Kennedy last November, in which she went hiking with the then-candidate, and has since written numerous other features about Trump and the 2024 campaign.

In a note to staff on Friday obtained by CNN, New York Magazine editor David Haskell said editors had learned of Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy “a few days ago” and were told it began in December, after her profile of Kennedy published, and ended in August.

Haskell said that while editors had not found evidence of bias in her reporting during that period, “I made clear to Olivia, she had created at the very least the appearance of a conflict, and, by choosing not to disclose this to her editors, had violated our policies and potentially damaged our readers’ trust.”

“I am so deeply proud of the work we make together, and I am sorry this brings a cloud of distraction over us,” he added.

The magazine said that Nuzzi had violated its standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures by engaging in a relationship with a “former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign” while reporting on the election.

Nuzzi and Politico’s chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza announced their engagement to one another in September 2023.

In a note to readers Friday in the Playbook PM newsletter, Lizza wrote, “Because of my connection to this story through my ex-fiancée, my editors and I have agreed that I won’t be involved in any coverage of Kennedy in Playbook or elsewhere at POLITICO.”

H2. Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

RFK Jr. is the son of Robert Francis Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for the Democratic nomination for president, almost five years after his brother and the US president, John F Kennedy, was assassinated.

RFK Jr’s 2024 independent campaign never really took off to challenge the Democrats or Republicans and his extreme stances on some issues, especially around vaccinations, did little to endear him to mainstream Americans.

RFK Jr. has been married to actor Cheryl Hines since 2014. A representative for Hines declined to comment Friday on his relationship with Nuzzi. While Hines had supported her husband’s presidential run, appearing at campaign events, she has not commented on Kennedy’s decision to throw his support behind Trump.

H2. The Backlash

The revelation of Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy has sparked a backlash from some quarters. Some have accused Nuzzi of bias, while others have argued that the relationship was a conflict of interest that should have been disclosed.

The New York Times has reported that some reporters at New York magazine were angry about the situation, arguing that Nuzzi’s relationship with Kennedy could have jeopardized the magazine’s credibility.

H2. The Future of Olivia Nuzzi’s Career

The New York Times, a publication that is also run by a company that owns a magazine that has its own journalistic code of ethics and practices, has said that Nuzzi is “currently on leave” and that the magazine is conducting “a more thorough third-party review.”

Nuzzi has been a high-profile American journalist and television pundit. One of her most recent pieces included an interview with Donald Trump in which the former US president invited her to examine his ear, injured in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Recounting the experience, she wrote: “An ear had never appeared to have gone through less.”

It is unclear what the outcome of the review will be. However, it is possible that Nuzzi could face disciplinary action, or even be fired.

H2. Beyond the Headlines: Reflections on Journalism Ethics

The Nuzzi situation raises important questions about journalism ethics and the need for transparency. Nuzzi’s relationship with a subject she covered is a clear example of a conflict of interest, and it is essential for journalists to disclose such relationships to avoid compromising their credibility and public trust.

The situation also highlights the importance of maintaining a professional distance between journalists and their subjects, especially when covering political campaigns. It is clear that personal relationships can easily cloud objectivity and judgment, and this can have serious consequences for the integrity of journalism.

Nuzzi's situation serves as a stark reminder that journalists must uphold the highest ethical standards and be accountable to their readers. Maintaining transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest are not just matters of professional decorum, but also crucial elements in ensuring that the public receives accurate and reliable information.