Fox News Host Maria Bartiromo Accused of Leaking Information to the White House Before Sudden Exit

Journalist Maria Bartiromo — a longtime Fox News host who is no longer with the company after her abrupt exit was announced earlier this week — may have leaked information to the White House.

The Daily Mail reported on Friday, September 4, that (according to subscription-based service Status) Bartiromo told the White House why President Donald Trump‘s primetime speech about the 2020 election received limited coverage.

In an X post shared Thursday, September 3, Puck News founding partner and senior correspondent Dylan Byers shed more light on Bartiromo’s unexplained departure.

According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Bartiromo also wanted to pursue a story related to China and 2020 election voting conspiracies, which Byers described as a “major sensitivity for the network.”

Bartiromo allegedly took a screenshot of a text sent from a Fox executive regarding why the story could not air and sent it to senior White House officials.

When Fox News learned about the alleged leak (via a call from the White House), Bartiromo was pulled from the air. Her last appearance was on August 9, though the news was officially announced by the network this week.

“I have also learned that her executive producer Patrick Ignozzi was also fired after the annoucnement [sic],” Byers claimed on Thursday. “Maria had resigned her contract with Fox last February.”

In a follow-up X post, Byers stated that Bartiromo has allegedly hired high-profile lawyer Bryan Freedman, who has represented multiple A-list clients including Justin Baldoni amid the It Ends With Us legal battle.

Fox announced the news with a statement that said, “We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”

Additionally, they said that the last episode of Mornings with Maria aired Thursday and that the show will transition to Mornings with FOX Business with rotating anchors. Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street will shift to FBN’s Wall Street this week hosted by Cheryl Casone and helmed by rotating anchors thereafter. FBN will also launch a new weekday programming schedule.

Sunday Morning Futures will be hosted by Jason Chaffetz this Sunday, and a new host will be announced at a later date.

But her lawyer has denied she has been let go. “For many years, Maria Bartiromo hosted three number one rated television shows on Fox channels. She has been, without question,  one of the hardest working journalists throughout her award winning career,” Freedman told Globe in a statement. “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. 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.”