Olivia Nuzzi’s Ex-Fiancé Ryan Lizza Claims She Was “Sleeping With” Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
The already turbulent public split between political journalists Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza escalated again this week, as Lizza published new claims alleging that Nuzzi had a sexual relationship with former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford during the 2020 election cycle. The accusation, which Lizza says he discovered while the two were engaged and co-authoring a book, adds yet another volatile chapter to their contentious breakup.
Lizza made the allegation in a lengthy personal essay posted to his Substack-style platform, where he described finding what he called a “love letter” written by Nuzzi to Sanford. According to Lizza, the note was dated in early March 2020 on hotel stationery and addressed simply to “Mark,” which he interpreted as evidence of a romantic and physical relationship. He claims the revelation stunned him, especially because he and Nuzzi were at that time collaborating professionally on a book chronicling the 2020 presidential race.
In his account, Lizza alleges that Nuzzi became emotionally attached to Sanford after interviewing him during his brief presidential bid. He asserts that she continued communicating privately with the former governor, even while telling Lizza she was traveling for reporting assignments. Lizza further claims that the relationship turned sexual when Nuzzi visited Sanford in South Carolina, a detail he says he learned only after coming across what he believes were personal messages and the handwritten note.
To Lizza, this presented not only a personal betrayal but a professional one. He argues that an intimate relationship between a journalist and a political figure—particularly one connected to an active campaign—is a serious breach of newsroom ethical standards. “How were we supposed to write a book about the presidential campaign,” he wrote, “if one of the authors was secretly romantically involved with one of the candidates?” He maintains that the discovery forced him to reevaluate both their engagement and their collaboration.
Nuzzi has not publicly confirmed any relationship with Sanford. Past filings connected to the former couple’s legal disputes show Nuzzi accusing Lizza of harassment and emotional coercion, describing his disclosures as acts of retaliation after their engagement collapsed. Nuzzi has characterized many of his statements as manipulative or misleading, though she has not directly addressed the Sanford allegation specifically.
For his part, Sanford has not issued any public comment regarding Lizza’s claims. The former governor, known nationally for his own past scandal involving an extramarital affair while in office, has largely remained outside the political spotlight since his unsuccessful 2020 primary challenge.
The new allegation emerges after months of back-and-forth accusations between the former couple, including Lizza’s earlier claims that Nuzzi exchanged flirtatious or explicit messages with another political figure. Nuzzi has pushed back through legal channels, asserting that Lizza’s public statements are part of a broader pattern of personal and professional retaliation.
As of now, the allegation that Nuzzi and Sanford had a sexual relationship remains unverified, supported only by Lizza’s account. Neither Nuzzi nor Sanford has offered confirmation, leaving the public conversation shaped primarily by Lizza’s writing
