### Turmoil in Washington: Journalists' Breakup Leads to Allegations and Court Dispute

Political journalist Ryan Lizza has accused his former fiancée, Olivia Nuzzi, of engaging in dangerous behavior during a year-long affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resulting in the couple’s split this summer. According to recent court filings in Washington, DC's Superior Court, Lizza claims Kennedy manipulated Nuzzi, expressing desires to "possess," "control," and "impregnate" her. Lizza, who is Politico's chief Washington correspondent, stated that Nuzzi disclosed details about her relationship with Kennedy after their engagement ended in August.

The contentious breakup between these two prominent Washington journalists has raised ethical questions regarding their professional work, particularly in relation to the presidential election coverage and their connection to the Kennedy family. Lizza's court filings depict Kennedy as a manipulator, suggesting Nuzzi should have distanced herself from what he described as a "disturbing relationship." Both journalists are currently on leave and under investigation by their respective employers. Kennedy’s representatives have not commented on the situation.

In the court documents, Lizza refuted Nuzzi's accusations that he threatened her, hacked her electronics, or stalked her. He clarified that he did not inform her New York magazine editors about her relationship with Kennedy. "Almost everything I know about her affair comes directly from Ms. Nuzzi herself," Lizza wrote.

Although Nuzzi secured a temporary protective order against Lizza, a hearing before a DC judge did not delve into the specifics of their mutual accusations. The court session, held via video conference, saw Nuzzi shaking her head as one of Lizza's attorneys addressed the judge. A more comprehensive hearing, possibly including evidence and witness testimonies, is set for mid-November.

Lizza's attorney, Robert Barnett, declined further comment on the ongoing dispute. However, Nuzzi's legal counsel accused Lizza of continuing to "harass and humiliate" her. Their statement emphasized that Nuzzi's objective in seeking court intervention was solely to ensure her safety and to be left alone.

Court records show that Nuzzi had earlier received approval to prevent Lizza from contacting her and to protect her while she retrieved belongings from their shared home. Lizza contended that Nuzzi's portrayal of their breakup was defamatory and opposed the protective order.

Lizza outlined a timeline of their relationship and breakup, noting that he discovered the affair in mid-August. He described a period of turmoil where Nuzzi attempted reconciliation, and the two spent time together into September. During this time, Nuzzi reportedly characterized the affair as "toxic," "unhealthy," and "indefensible," acknowledging the significant power disparity between her and the 70-year-old Kennedy, though she claimed the relationship was not physical.

In his court filings, Lizza mentioned advising Nuzzi to remove certain "reporting material" she had obtained from Kennedy. He also suggested she should return an advance payment for a joint book project they were working on, due to the affair's impact on their professional collaborations. Lizza revealed this is the second presidential cycle disrupted by what he referred to as Nuzzi's "personal indiscretions," mentioning a previous affair in 2020 without providing additional details.