Maria Bartiromo’s lawyer sharply denied that she was fired from her job at Fox News on Friday, after reports that she was dismissed after divulging the network’s editorial guidance to the White House.
Fox announced Bartiromo’s departure on Thursday but provided no explanation, saying only in a statement that it was effective immediately.
“Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media,” the network said in a press release, adding in a statement: “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 and a half years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”
She had been with Fox for more than 12 years and hosted a popular three-hour weekday morning show for the Fox Business network, as well as a Sunday morning show.
Status News reported on Thursday that Fox instructed senior employees to avoid covering Donald Trump’s July primetime address, where he shared unproven and false claims about the 2020 election. Bartiromo, an avid Trump supporter, shared that message with the White House, according to Status News, a violation of company policy. Bartiromo was taken off the air shortly after.
In a statement, Bryan Freedman, Bartiromo’s attorney, called her, “one of the hardest-working journalists throughout her award-winning career” and denied the claims reported by Status News. Freedman has previously defended several journalists fired from their networks, including Don Lemon at CNN, Megyn Kelly at NBC News and Tucker Carlson at Fox.
“The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false,” Freedman said in a statement. “Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise. Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth.”
A Fox spokesperson pointed to the company’s original statement and said: “The release speaks for itself.”
Several former Fox News employees are now working at the Trump administration, including Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. With the recent announcement that Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, would be stepping down at the end of August, some have speculated that Bartiromo might be tapped to step into the role.
After news broke of her departure, Trump posted: “I can’t believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business. Three different shows, always number one. Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior. Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy. God bless you, Maria! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
