Liz Cho, an anchor for WABC-TV in New York City, has lost a series of pre-trial rulings in her divorce from former television host Josh Elliott. Judge Steven Dembo issued the decisions during a July 24 remote hearing recorded in court filings from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The ruling requires Cho, 55, to hand over six years of cell phone records to Elliott, also 55, along with his legal team. Court documents show no indication why Elliott requested six years of phone data.
Cho had initially requested that Elliott produce text messages sent to extramarital sexual partners. Elliott agreed to the request in March and subsequently demanded similar communications from Cho. Although Cho initially resisted, she revealed at the hearing that she has now agreed to provide any such messages. Court documents note there is no suggestion that either party was unfaithful.
The couple married in Montecito, California, in July 2015 and shared a six-bedroom mansion in Connecticut valued between $4 million and $4.2 million. They resided together in the home until January of this year, when Elliott moved out following severe domestic friction.
Disputes Over Finances and Phone Records
Judge Dembo ruled against Cho on multiple specific discovery issues during the hearing. The judge ordered Cho to provide additional details regarding an October 2025 money transfer in which she moved $500,000 from the couple's joint bank account to her teenage daughter from a previous marriage. Elliott objected to the transfer, which Cho defended.
Cho was also ordered to surrender any communications she or her representatives had with journalists concerning the divorce. The court noted there is no evidence that either spouse spoke to reporters, and both Cho and Elliott have ignored repeated requests for comment from the Daily Mail.
Additionally, Judge Dembo directed Cho to produce receipts for payments connected to her previous marriage spanning the past 11 years. Court records provide no further details on the nature of these payments or what relevance they hold for the divorce.
Allegations of Misconduct in the Home
Court filings from late 2025 and early 2026 reveal a hostile living situation prior to Elliott moving out. In March filings, Elliott's attorneys stated he left the residence to de-escalate an environment marked by surveillance and baseless accusations.
On January 30, Elliott accused Cho of monitoring his private telephone calls, looking through his personal belongings, and searching his closet. He also alleged that Cho turned off lights and locked doors against his daughter when temperatures outside reached 14 degrees. Furthermore, Elliott claimed Cho left the house for extended periods without arranging necessary care for their two Portuguese water dogs.
Cho countered by claiming that Elliott stole her jewelry when he moved out of the property. Elliott's attorney rejected the allegation, calling it litigation theatrics and advising Cho to contact police if a crime occurred. The friction between the two extended to basic household items, including squabbles reported in January and March over who owned grapes in the refrigerator.
Court Rulings and Trial Schedule
The disputes required judicial intervention to settle holiday living arrangements at their six-bedroom residence. A court-approved agreement granted Cho and her daughter access to the home on December 23, 24, and 25, requiring them to leave by 11:00 a.m. on Christmas Day. Elliott and his daughter then occupied the house until December 30. The arrangement strictly barred either spouse from entering the bedrooms of the other partner or their stepdaughters.
Despite the setbacks, Cho secured some minor victories during the hearing. Judge Dembo ruled she does not need to comply with Elliott's demand for a large collection of trial documents her legal team plans to show. The judge also dismissed Elliott's request for examples of times Cho signed over power of attorney to him, noting both parties could obtain those records directly from financial institutions.
Judge Dembo pushed the couple's trial date back to October. Both parties have until the end of the week to comply with the latest disclosure order.
Careers and Personal Background
Elliott filed to dissolve the marriage in June 2025, writing in court papers that the union had broken down irretrievably. The filing came weeks before what would have been their 10th anniversary.
The couple met while working at ABC in the early 2010s. At the time, Elliott was an anchor on Good Morning America while Cho served as a fill-in host. Cho has been with WABC-TV since 2003 and is one of the station's top stars. She was previously married to real estate mogul Evan Gottlieb for four years until their split in 2012, and the former couple shares a 19-year-old daughter.
Elliott previously worked for ABC, NBC, and ESPN. His television hosting career ended at CBS News in 2017, where he was fired after one year following an on-air announcement where he told viewers he was leaving his hosting role for a larger network position without approval from the network.
