RFK Jr.’s Boasts Led To Key Breakthrough In Olivia Nuzzi Scandal: Report

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. openly spoke of photos he received from New York magazine’s star D.C. correspondent Olivia Nuzzi before word got back to her boss and the publication placed her on leave, The Daily Beast reported on Saturday.

The former presidential candidate, who is married to “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Cheryl Hines, reportedly bragged of the “intimate” pictures to friends.

The photos were “demure” nudes, a source told Puck News, and the site notes that the relationship was likely “strictly remotus” in nature.

New York magazine editor-in-chief David Haskell learned of Kennedy’s talk of the photos and — after Nuzzi initially denied the relationship to her boss — she would later confirm that it took place, The Daily Beast reported.

The new details arrive after New York magazine announced Thursday that Nuzzi told editors she had a “personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign,” adding that it had violated the magazine’s conflict of interest/disclosure standards.

Nuzzi, in a statement to CNN’s Brian Stelter on Thursday, acknowledged a relationship with who she described as a “former reporting subject” and noted that she didn’t report on them or use them as a source during that time.

“The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict,” she wrote. “I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”

Journalist Oliver Darcy first reported on the relationship in his Status newsletter.

Haskell, in a note to staff on Friday, wrote that the publication learned of the “personal nature” of the relationship “a few days ago.”

Nuzzi told the magazine the relationship began in December 2023 — after her profile on Kennedy — and ended in August, according to Haskell.

Haskell, in his note to staff, added that an internal review of Nuzzi’s work since December 2023 found “no inaccuracies or evidence of bias that require corrections” while an independent, third-party review is underway of her work for the magazine this year.

Kennedy has denied meeting Nuzzi outside of her work on the profile she wrote for the magazine last year, according to a spokesperson. A source told The Daily Beast that Kennedy and Nuzzi met on multiple occasions, maintaining that it was “never physical.”

Politico Playbook’s Ryan Lizza, who got engaged to Nuzzi in 2022, referred to Nuzzi as his “ex-fiancée” on Friday afternoon and noted that because of his “connection” to the story he won’t report on Kennedy for the site. News of the relationship was not addressed in that morning’s edition of the Playbook.