When Fox News issued abrupt press release announcing the departure of its top personality, Maria Bartiromo, the network offered no explanation of what happened, or even whether she was leaving of her own volition or not.
Now, according to the "Status" newsletter, the truth has been revealed: Bartiromo was indeed fired — because of a previously unreported incident earlier this summer.
Specifically, per the report from Oliver Darcy, "After Trump delivered his unhinged prime time speech in which he pushed more conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, this time making a number of allegations against China ... Fox News issued guidance to senior employees instructing them to steer clear of giving credence to Trump’s delusional claims," in the form of a text message to staff.
Once this happened, said the report, Bartiromo spilled the beans to the White House "that Trump’s speech had received scant coverage on the channel because network bosses had ordered it so," and provided them with the text message proving it.
"In doing so, Bartiromo not only effectively betrayed her employer, but also disclosed confidential company information, violating the terms of her employment agreement," said the report.
Bartiromo has frequently landed in trouble for pushing President Donald Trump's conspiracy theories, and claims from his allies, about the 2020 election being stolen.
Her uncritical promotion of claims that Dominion Voting Systems equipment was compromised, some of it coming from a woman who claimed to have learned this through time travel, played a key role in Dominion's defamation suit against the network, which was ultimately settled for just under $800 million.