CNN Benches Ryan Lizza After Accusation of Sexual Misconduct

CNN has announced that they will bench Ryan Lizza as a regularly appearing political analyst for the network while they investigate an accusation of sexual misconduct. Lizza’s full-time employer, The New Yorker, fired him on Monday over unspecified charges.

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

Lizza had been a fixture on CNN’s lineup, with regular appearances in both morning and primetime coverage.

The news comes just hours after Lizza was terminated from his regular gig at The New Yorker where the allegations against him first surfaced.

“The New Yorker recently learned that Ryan Lizza engaged in what we believe was improper sexual conduct,” a spokesperson for the magazine told TheWrap. “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 had been a rising star at both The New Yorker and CNN until the news broke Monday afternoon. His reporting on the swear-laced tirades of former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci led to the latter’s resignation and was one of the major stories of 2017.