Maria Bartiromo's attorney is speaking out about the anchor's abrupt exit from Fox News.
Fox News Media press release announced Sept. 3 that Bartiromo, who worked for Fox News for over a decade, cut ties with the network.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Bartiromo, denied previous reports to USA TODAY, adding he has "receipts and witnesses" to prove it.
"She has been, without question, one of the hardest working journalists throughout her award winning career," Freedman wrote in a statement to USA TODAY Friday, Sept. 4.
Fox News Media did not provide further information about her immediate exit. The former anchor and staunch President Donald Trump supporter has been absent from her three shows since Aug. 9.
Was Maria Bartiromo fired? Attorney pushes back
In his statement, Freedman slammed reporting
that suggested the media personality was fired from the network.
"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," he said.
"Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise," Freedman continued. "Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth."
Trump, Vance speak out on Maria Bartiromo Fox News departure
Following the news, Trump called Bartiromo a "total professional" and a "true warrior" in a Truth Social post on Sept. 3. Vice President JD Vance seemed to shut down claims that Bartiromo would fill in the White House press secretary role, following Karoline Leavitt's exit. "No, I don't think so," Vance said, with a laugh during a Sept. 3 White House press briefing, adding she's an "amazing talent."
The network is dropping her name from two weekday shows on the Fox Business Network, renaming "Mornings with Maria," to "Mornings with Fox Business," and "Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street," to "FBNs Wall Street."
And the Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" will be hosted by former Republican congressman Jason Chaffetz until they land a new host for the role.
Bartiromo started as a host on CNBC's "Closing Bell" and "On the Money with Maria Bartiromo." She worked for CNBC for two decades, before pivoting to Fox in 2014. At the network, she's faced legal trouble, including being named in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit by voting machine company Dominion Voting. The suit against Fox News claimed Bartiromo as one of the anchors who spread false claims about a "stolen election" in 2020. The suit settled for $787.5 million.
Maria Bartiromo is latest in Fox News exit
The exit marks the latest departure by celebrity anchors from the network. Fox severed ties with Tucker Carlson in 2023, and went separate ways withBill O'Reilly in 2017 following a sexual harassment investigation.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Maria Bartiromo leave Fox News? Her attorney breaks silence
