New Yorker reporter who recorded vulgar Scaramucci rant fired for sexual misconduct

The New Yorker fired Ryan Lizza, the reporter who recorded an infamous vulgar rant from Anthony Scaramucci, for “improper sexual conduct” Monday.

The New Yorker's statement

The magazine released a brief statement on the matter.

“The New Yorker recently learned that Ryan Lizza engaged in what we believe was improper sexual conduct,” the statement read. “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 denies wrongdoing

Lizza responded to his termination Monday afternoon with a statement:

“I am dismayed that The New Yorker has decided to characterize a respectful relationship with a woman I dated as somehow inappropriate,” Lizza said in the statement. “The New Yorker was unable to cite any company policy that was violated. I am sorry to my friends, workplace colleagues, and loved ones for any embarrassment this episode may cause. I love The New Yorker, my home for the last decade, and I have the highest regard for the people who work there. But this decision, which was made hastily and without a full investigation of relevant facts, was a terrible mistake."

Taken off the air

Lizza was a political reporter for The New Yorker, and had been the Washington correspondent since 2007, and also a regular contributor to CNN, which has suspended his appearances while this issue is investigated.

He has been relatively absent from Twitter over the last few weeks, which was noticeable because he normally posted on the site multiple times per day.

Scaramucci controversy

Lizza was the source of a White House controversy in July when he recorded and released a conversation with then-White House communications director Scaramucci, during which Scaramucci spoke harshly about former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Scaramucci called Priebus a “——ing paranoid schizophrenic” and used a vulgar euphemism to demean Bannon for his pursuit of media attention.

Scaramucci claimed he believed the conversation with Lizza to be off-the-record.

“Legally, it may have been on the record, but the spirit of it was off,” Scaramucci told HuffPost. “And he knew that.”

He was fired after a week and a half as communications director.

(H/T Politico)