Star political journo Olivia Nuzzi has hired the high-powered DC lawyer who previously repped a Matt Lauer accuser as the fallout from her tryst with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. escalates.
Nuzzi has retained attorney Ari Wilkenfeld, who can cost $800 per hour, for her messy legal battle with her ex Ryan Lizza, the Daily Beast reported on Monday.
Wilkenfield — a big name in Washington employment law — is a major upgrade from her previous counsel, a Maryland personal injury attorney.
The law firm Wilkenfeld works for, Alan Lescht, can charge up to $5,000 in commencement rates with a lawyer like Wilkenfeld costing about $800 per hour, according to the outlet.
Nuzzi is fighting to keep her court battle against Lizza, her ex-fiancé, behind closed doors after the two exchanged fiery claims about each other in recent weeks.
Lizza, a Politico correspondent who worked on the Playbook newsletter before taking a leave of absence, is calling on the legal proceeding to be open to the public, the outlet reported.
“Mr. Lizza wants his facts to be on the public record, has nothing to hide, and respectfully requests that this Court deny Ms. Nuzzi’s motion to seal,” newly filed papers state.
Nuzzi’s world was upended last month when it came out she had a sexting relationship with RFK Jr. after interviewing the former presidential candidate for a profile in November 2023.