Ryan Lizza, reporter for the New Yorker, has been fired over sexual misconduct allegations. And former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci may have foreshadowed his demise.
Lizza was fired for what his employer described as “improper sexual conduct.”
We “recently learned he engaged in what we believe was improper sexual conduct,” a statement by the New Yorker read, adding that they had “reviewed the matter and, as a result, have severed ties with Lizza.”
The New Yorker has severed ties with Ryan Lizza in response to behavior the magazine believes to be “improper sexual conduct.” Full statement: pic.twitter.com/a1PAb5Vkao
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) December 11, 2017
Lizza for his part insisted the alleged misconduct involved nothing more than a “respectful, consensual relationship” with a woman he dated.
,@RyanLizza statement: “I am dismayed that The New Yorker has decided to characterize a respectful relationship with a woman I dated as somehow inappropriate. The New Yorker was unable to cite any company policy that was violated.”
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) December 11, 2017
The accuser, through her legal representation, disputes any characterization of the alleged incident or incidents as “consensual.”
Attorney Douglas Wigdor, representing anonymous woman who accused @ryanlizza, disputes Lizza’s account of consensual relationship. Statement: pic.twitter.com/MyN7OLxgma
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) December 11, 2017
Lizza was the reporter that helped bring about the short and swift chapter of Scaramucci’s career as White House Communications Director.
Scaramucci was fired from his post just ten days after arriving, when Lizza published a secret recording between the two that included expletive-laced accusations made by the former against colleagues such as then-White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and then-White House Strategist Steve Bannon.
It didn’t take long for Scaramucci to get a pink slip for running to a liberal reporter with grievances against administration officials.
Scaramucci however, insisted that Lizza knew the conversation was an off the record account, and Lizza should never have published the comments he described as “humorous and joking.”
“Legally, it may have been on the record, but the spirit of it was off,” the Mooch said. “And he knew that.”
He may have gotten the last laugh on Lizza in the end.
Joe Concha, a reporter for the Hill, tweeted out that Scaramucci, in a December 4th interview, stated that Lizza was about to meet Karma, and she’s a real b****.
Did Scaramucci know about Ryan Lizza’s demise? Mooch Dec 4 interview: “This guy’s obviously a very bad actor. Karma’s a bitch. It’ll come back & bite him. You’ll see. You’re a transactional guy,” he added, addressing Lizza. “And you’re gonna have a transactional, miserable life.”
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) December 11, 2017
“I am sorry to my friends, workplace colleagues, and loved ones for any embarrassment this episode may cause,” Lizza said in a statement. “I love The New Yorker, my home for the last decade, and I have the highest regard for the people who work there.”
But he certainly wasn’t ready to take responsibility for his actions.
“But this decision, which was made hastily and without a full investigation of the relevant facts, was a terrible mistake,” he said.
Are you happy to see the reporter who brought down Scaramucci be brought down himself? Share your thoughts below!
