New Yorker Fires Veteran Political Reporter For 'Improper Sexual Conduct'

The New Yorker fired its DC political correspondent, Ryan Lizza, on Monday over “improper sexual conduct.” In a statement, the magazine said it had “severed ties” with Lizza after reviewing allegations of his misconduct:

CNN, where Lizza is a contributor, said he would no longer appear on the network pending an investigation:

Lizza, who worked at the magazine for a decade, is perhaps best known for catalyzing the demise of former White House communications director, Anthony “The Mooch” Scaramucci. In an interview Lizza last summer, Scaramucci threw his colleagues under the bus, consistently referred to himself in the third person, and ran his, uh, creatively foul mouth.

At one point during their very much on-the-record conversation, Scaramucci delivered a line that conjured an abjectly horrifying and unfortunately memorable image: “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock.”

By Monday afternoon, Lizza released a statement in response to his firing. “I am dismayed that The New Yorker has decided to characterize a respectful relationship with a womanI dated as somehow inappropriate,” Lizza said. “The New Yorker was unable to cite any company policy that was violated.”

While Lizza’s accuser has chosen to remain anonymous, she released a statement disputing his account of their “respectful” relationship through her lawyer on Monday evening.

“Although she desires to remain confidential and requests that her privacy be respected, in no way did Mr. Lizza’s conduct constitute a ‘respectful relationship’ as he has now tried to characterize it,” her lawyer wrote.