CNN Suspends Ryan Lizza Amid ‘Improper Sexual Conduct’ Probe

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Ryan Lizza

The New Yorker severed ties with Lizza on Monday.

CNN has suspended contributor Ryan Lizza following his termination from The New Yorker for what the magazine called “improper sexual conduct.”

“We have just learned of the New Yorker’s decision,” the network said in a statement. “Ryan Lizza will not appear on CNN while we look into this matter.”

In addition to being a frequent presence on CNN, Lizza had been The New Yorker’s Washington correspondent since 2007. On Monday, seemingly out of the blue, the magazine announced Lizza’s termination.

“The New Yorker recently learned that Ryan Lizza engaged in what we believe was improper sexual conduct,” the magazine said in a statement. “We have reviewed the matter and, as a result, have severed ties with Lizza. Due to a request for privacy, we are not commenting further.”

Lizza put out his own statement taking issue with his termination, which he said was a “terrible mistake.” “I am dismayed that The New Yorker has decided to characterize a respectful relationship with a women I dated as somehow inappropriate,” he said. “The New Yorker was unable to cite any company policy that I violated. I am sorry to my friends, workplace colleagues, and loved ones for any embarrassment this episode may cause.”

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Getting to the point where any aspiring unmarried pundit or politician (liberal or conservative) almost needs to take a vow of chastity.

    Either that or emulate Sean Hannity. Long married, Hannity admits having a third-party present whenever meeting professionally with a woman. I used to snicker, but now must acknowledge his awareness that “takedown” scandals occur but can be avoided.

  2. V.P. Pence was soundly Critucized and Vilified for stating that he did not like to meet privately with Women in the evening.

    I find Lizza to be an arrogant egotistical know it all that really is a Lightweigt but again I find the idea rhat any and all Accusations must be accepted without any real evidence absurd.

    I am very sympathetic to authorities listening to allegations and charges but without Hard evidence I reject the notion that anyone should be believed about any claims without following the Rule of Law.

    It is really sad that this whole He Said She Said era of claims allegations and accusations many of them going back decades falls along Political Lines.

    I am quite confident when I say that HRC does not mean the Women that claim Bubba Sexually Assaulted them should be BELIEVED when she makes Her ridiculous Statement.
    I am also quite sure that 90% of Media ALSO do not believe The Women that Accuse Bill of Sexual Assault and Rape should be believed or even HEARD! Just ask JAUNITA Broderick!

    When was the last time you saw any of the Bubba Accusers On CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, The View, Ellen,

    Rather Odd don’t you think?

    Having said all of that can we honestly believe that ALL of the Bubba Accusers are telling the truth?

    I do not think we can assume that and I am also quite sure that some mostly Men of Good Character that have committed NO Chargeable Sexual Assaults will be taken down in this era of overzealous Politically Correct Social Engineering Witch Hunt and it will cost them their Career, their Marriage, their Friends, their Reputation and Ruin them Financially.

    Some Very Good People are going to be nothing more than Collateral Damage when the Dudt Settles and People will not Care!

    I am still waiting for Lisa Bloom and Gloria Alredd to show up on CNN and the rest with all of the Bill Clinton inTow!

    Think we will have to wait long for that?

  3. I always like what Ryan has to say on CNN. One allegation could end ones career, boy have times changed. Dustin Hoffman is a good example of allegations damaging his reputation. Take the person to court, not the court of public opinion.

  4. John Ziegler, no fan of liberalism, has gone to bat for, first, Al Franken and, now, Ryan Lizza in Mediaite. With Lizza it appears even one (unidentified) female accuser can scuttle a career. Ziegler makes the point that, without timely due process, progressive and conservative luminaries alike are at risk of unfair professional destruction.

  5. It is a Fundamental of our Rule of Law that anyone and everyone has the right to Due Process.

    How would any of us feel if a loved one or close friend was vilified in the Court of Public Opinion without the Right to that Due Process?

    Think about what can and MIGHT happen if any disgruntled person for any reason made allegations/accusations against you without an investigation and the opportunity to defend yourself in Court.

    I can’t really see anyone attempting to Defend Franken considering his Photo Evidence, his admissions and his very public apology to Tweeden which is well documented. As much as I dislike the arrogant and self righteous Al Franken I find it difficult to think he is guilty of any groping simply based upon accusations of incidents reportedly carried out a few years ago when there was no complaint or prostration at the time of the alledged incident.

    Franken should officially resign for the Tweeden Assaults.

    Again I am no fan of Lizza but the NYer is really jumping the Gun and I would hope he Files a Wrongful Dismissal Lawsuit.

    He has a Moral Clause in his Contract but I doubt very much that NYer has enough solid evidence to Fire him. Good Luck to him!

  6. Due process is a criminal law concept. It concerns the rights of private citizens being prosecuted by the state.

    These matters are private contracts and due process doesn’t apply. Absent some sort of CBA or contractual grievance procedure, employers have the freedom to hire and fire as they see fit.
    Parties who feel they have been treated unlawfully can seek compensation through a civil claim.

    Expecting or worse yet forcing employers to wait for the criminal investigation, prosecution and appeals process to be exhausted is unreasonable.

  7. Zebb

    The 5 and 14 Ammendment is one thing but Due Process is used each and every day in common language in the Western World to describe the excercise of any individual getting the opportunity to be given the opportunity either in Court, Government Employment or Private Business.

    My Company Employees over 50 people and each and every time in the only five times I have needed to terminate Employees My Lawyer who is QC always tells me we should treat them fairly and give them Due Process.

    How many People do you employ? Ever been forced to terminate an Employee with several Mouths to Feed? Ever Fire Someone On unfounded allegations and got away with it?

    Seems to me like you are attempting to Score Weenie Points!

    No One should be Terminated on a single complaint and if an Employer attempts that today they are asking for trouble.

    I do not know the whole Lizza Story but how would you like to be fired on what appears at first blush to be a he said, she said complaint?

    There are examples of people being suspended with pay pending an investigation every single month of the year if you pay attention you might be aware of those cases.

    Once again I go back to the John Furlong Case Locally, the Duke Lacrosse Team, the RCMP Harrassment Case Invlving Shields and many more.

    One day it might be you who is accused, would you not want a fair hearing?

  8. Oh, your lawyer is a QC? Amazing. He is protecting you financially, he doesn’t have a duty to protect your employees. An employer is always free to pay damages. As was my point and your QC could confirm. You do what you think is in the best long and short term interests of your business.

    I’ve fired people with and without cause. Without a lawyer holding my hand. No litigation. No ESB proceedings.

    Let’s say you run a business provided in home care to seniors. A male employee is charged with three rapes and is bailed out and will face trial in a year. You continue to employ him and send him into peoples homes waiting for the government to tell you how to run your business, right?

    Why do you use capitals?

  9. I suggest you reread your second to last paragraph about still sending an employee charged with three rapes to continue to treat the elderly.

    How juvenile is that illustration?

    You obviously are not being honest about firing people, it is not as simple as you would like to believe.

    Forgive me for stating this but it appears to me that you are much like The Wizard of Oz, very tough and threatening until someone draws back the curtain.

    Fired People “Without Cause”?

    Only in your corporation of ONE!

  10. Zebb

    My apologies, I was somewhat thin skinned and I reacted a bit harshly to your commentary.
    I must admit my Wife told me my comments sounded a little bitchy.

  11. In this day and age of PC insanity I can only imagine that anyone that hires and fires people had better be up to snuff on every labor law and every sentence and punctuation mark in a CBA.
    Having said that to fire someone based on anonymous sources is like running into a mine field.
    Personally it has always been a good idea to have a third party in a room when any sort of discipline is being conducted. Seems nowadays might be a good idea under any scenario.

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