Olivia Nuzzi was banned from Trump’s hush-money for taking prohibited photos twice; didn’t inform readers
Before New York Magazine writer Olivia Nuzzi was suspended for allegedly sexting with RFK Jr, she was booted from Donald Trump's hush-money criminal trial for taking photos against court rules, The Post has learned.
After her ejection on April 22, Nuzzi reported on the trial without informing readers she was banned from the 15th floor of the Manhattan criminal courthouse where it took place, her subsequent coverage shows.
Court officials removed Nuzzi after guards caught her snapping a photo – for the second time – in an adjacent room where reporters and some public attendees watched the trial on a monitor.
In the first incident, she took a photo of her brightly colored purse on the drab floor, said a source familiar with the incident.
Officials warned Nuzzi that photography in the room was strictly prohibited, but she failed to heed it.
"She was treated with deference originally, but continued taking photos despite the fact she was instructed and told not to," a fellow reporter who covered the trial told The Post.
But another reporter familiar with the second incident said Nuzzi whipped out her phone, after the trial ended for the day, because she liked his shirt, which had the amusing image of a dog on it, and guards "pounced" on her for the violation.
"She was not taking photos of the court proceedings. Enthusiastically in the moment, she snapped a photo of my shirt. She did not intentionally violate the rules." said the reporter, who asked to remain anonymous.
"Journalist Olivia Nuzzi was expelled for the remainder of the Trump proceedings for breaking rules prohibiting the taking of photographs in the audience overflow room at our criminal courthouse in Lower Manhattan," spokesman Al Baker confirmed Friday.
When busted for the second infraction, she tried "sweet talking" one of the officers in charge.
"I know, I'm a f–king idiot, I'm sorry," she said, a witness recalled.
Under state law, the unauthorized televising or photographing of court proceedings is a misdemeanor, but Nuzzi and several other journalists caught breaking the rule during the Trump trial were not charged, records show.
Nuzzi's ouster came more than a month before the trial ended with guilty verdicts against Trump on May 29.
She will also be barred from attending Trump's sentencing, set for Nov. 26, officials said.
During the trial, journalists and other attendees needed a court-issued pass to get to the 15th floor, which was highly secured by the Secret Service and NYPD.
Photojournalists were permitted to shoot only facing Trump's defense table, not from behind it where court personnel could be viewed.
New York Magazine did not return emails from The Post seeking comment on Nuzzi's expulsion from the trial, and asking whether the magazine ever informed readers about it.
