Olivia Nuzzi negotiating to end feud with ex Ryan Lizza over RFK Jr. affair 'blackmail' as no contact order set to expire

• e-mail

Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza will face off in court again next month after failed attempts to end their feud over his alleged blackmail over her phone sex affair with Robert F Kennedy Jr. 

A judge in Washington DC said Tuesday that negotiations the former couple were in ‘don’t appear to be fruitful’ and that they would reconvene on November 19.

New York magazine reporter Nuzzi and Lizza, Politico's chief Washington correspondent, appeared via video link at the federal court. 

Nuzzi wore a black top and was sitting in a living room. Lizza was wearing a dark blazer and light blue sweater on the video feed. 

Judge Sean Staples sounded skeptical at Nuzzi's claims she could not testify because of an ongoing FBI investigation into her claims. 

New York magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi and her ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza did not show up for the hearing in court Tuesday over her 'emotional affair' with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The affair with Robert Kennedy Jr. did not progress into physical intimacy but Nuzzi and the former presidential candidate are said to have shared 'incredible' steamy FaceTime sessions and sexting 

In a legal filing Nuzzi asked for an adjournment because she is 'actively participating' in an FBI investigation.

But Staplessaid that he didn’t know of ‘any legal impediment’ to Nuzzi testifying. 

‘She brought this case. She can pursue it or not pursue it,' the judge said.

 In her filing Nuzzi, 31, said she was 'unable to engage in any cross-examination at this time' and so her 'ability to testify is hampered'. 

Both sides have now lawyered up with Nuzzi being represented by Maryland-based personal injury lawyer Erik Walter. 

Lizza, 50, is being represented by legal heavy hitter Simon Latcovich at Williams & Connolly LLP, whose previous clients include former CIA director David Petreaus.

Latcovich told the judge that Lizza was ready to have the hearing immediately. 

Nuzzi accused Lizza of stealing her electronic devices to gain access to personal information about her affair with RFK Jr. before going to the media with the 'doctored' information and is taking him to court seeking damages 

He said that Nuzzi’s claims were ‘baseless’ and that Lizza ‘wants to present his case’.

Latcovich said; ‘Every day these claims go unanswered there are people who assume there’s some truth there. ‘That’s why Ms Nuzzi leaked her protective order to CNN’. 

The former lovebirds had been due in court Tuesday for a decision on a no-contact order a judge imposed upon him for allegedly blackmailing her over her phone sex affair with Robert F Kennedy Jr. 

But after the case was not called, the clerk at the District of Columbia Superior Court said that the matter was 'in negotiation'.

That means the two sides are working with a court mediator to resolve the dispute.

If they are unable to, it will come beforeStaples, the deputy presiding judge for domestic violence matters, to decide whether to renew the no contact order or dismiss it.

The hour-long hearing had been expected to be a chance for the Washington correspondent to present his side of events to the court. 

Instead, both sides appeared to be making an effort to reach an amicable resolution to what happens next with the order, which expires on Tuesday and would have to be renewed by the judge.

By the middle of August, Lizza 'explicitly threatened to make public personal information about me to destroy my life, career, and reputation – a threat he has since carried out', Nuzzi claims 

In legal filings, the senior reporter said that Lizza began harassing her at the beginning of July

Nuzzi was suspended by New York magazine ast month after the bombshell affair with former independent presidential candidate Kennedy was made public. 

The affair did not progress into physical intimacy but Nuzzi and the former RFK are said to have shared 'incredible' steamy FaceTime sessions and sexting.

She accused Lizza of stealing her electronic devices to gain access to personal information before going to the media with the 'doctored' information, and was taking him to court to seek damages. 

In legal filings, the senior reporter said that Lizza began harassing her at the beginning of July.

The court papers do not mention Kennedy by name.

'In the last few months it is my understanding that he began hacking my devices for the purpose of stalking and surveilling me and to collect materials' in order to 'blackmail to intimidate me back into a relationship', Nuzzi said in court documents. 

By the middle of August, Lizza 'explicitly threatened to make public personal information about me to destroy my life, career, and reputation – a threat he has since carried out', Nuzzi claimed.

She also alleged that Lizza impersonated an 'anonymous campaign operative' to shop the information around to other journalists. 

Nuzzi even claims that some information may have been 'doctored' to make her look worse.

Along with this, the scorned reporter alleges that Lizza tipped off New York magazine, possibly through a third party, and threatened her with violence 'to assume his share of financial responsibility for a book contract they had together'.

Nuzzi and Lizza got engaged in September 2022. He announced it was over two years later 

A judge granted Nuzzi a temporary no-contact order and will allow police guards to accompany her as she retrieves her belongings from the home they once shared 

The scorned reporter alleges that Lizza tipped off New York magazine, possibly through a third party, and threatened her with violence 'to assume his share of financial responsibility for a book contract they had together'

In a previous statement, Lizza denied his former partner's allegations.

He said: 'I am saddened that my ex-fiancée would resort to making a series of false accusations against me as a way to divert attention from her own personal and professional failings. I emphatically deny these allegations and I will defend myself against them vigorously and successfully'.

Nuzzi has previously admitted that conversations between her and RFK Jr. 'turned personal'.

In a statement, 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 (magazine)'.

Nuzzi has previously admitted that conversations between her and RFK Jr. 'turned personal'

As the ex-couple continue to battle in court, RFK Jr.'s wife Cheryl Hines 59, is standing by him as he grieves the death of his mother, Ethel, 96, whose funeral they attended together in Massachusetts on Monday.

The relationship is said to have begun after Nuzzi interviewed RFK Jr. for an interview for the magazine. 

She was said to have been 'madly in love' with RFK Jr. but he has denied any kind of relationship and said she kept contacting him even after he blocked her. 

In 2022, the correspondent got engaged to Nuzzi, who announced their betrothal on Instagram with a series of videos showing off a huge, solitaire-cut sparkler on her ring finger.

Nuzzi, who announced their 2022 betrothal on Instagram with a series of videos showing off a huge, solitaire-cut sparkler on her ring finger

The former couple were due to publish a book together about the 2020 election which has since stalled

As the ex-couple continue to battle in court, RFK Jr.'s wife Cheryl Hines 59, is standing by him as he grieves the death of his mother, Ethel, 96, whose funeral they attended together in Massachusetts on Monday.

The former couple were due to publish a book together about the 2020 election which has since stalled. 

New York magazine has said that it placed Nuzzi on leave while it conducted a 'third-party review'.

The publication has said she admitted having 'personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign'.  

Politico said that its editors and Lizza 'mutually agreed that it is in everyone's best interest for him to step back and take a leave of absence while an investigation is conducted'