I knew it would be entertaining to watch The View after Donald Trump won, but I didn’t expect it to be this good. One of the best things that ever happened on the show was Sunny Hostin being forced to correct Matt Gaetz on the air, and her reaction was priceless.
So what was the correction about? While discussing the previously unsubstantiated allegations against Gaetz, Hostin issued the following statement.
HOSTIN: As I understand it, later in the interview they discuss the fact that he stops having sex with her once she finds out she’s 17.
Whatever one thinks about Gaetz as a person and Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. In this case, the FBI and the Justice Department investigated the above allegations for years but never found grounds to file charges. Additionally, Gaetz claimed there was a conspiracy against him, and that turned out to be true.
SEE: Matt Gaetz proved right after charges were surprisingly dropped
In mid-2021, Stephen Alford was charged with attempted extortion of Gaetz’s father in connection with the sex trafficking allegations.
A Florida developer and fraud convict was arrested Tuesday on charges that he tried to extort $25 million from Rep. Matt Gaetz’s father in exchange for a presidential pardon that sparked a high-profile criminal sex trafficking investigation into the Republican would hire congressmen.
Stephen Alford, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, was charged with wire fraud and destruction of property subject to a warrant for seizure.
At this point, the DOJ investigation was still ongoing. That’s now over, meaning any targeted claim that Gaetz did what Hostin said could be defamatory. The View’s legal team apparently recognized this and, during a commercial break, wrote a correction to be read on television, citing a statement from Gaetz.
The great thing about this is how much Hostin clearly didn’t want to read it. Watch her facial expressions, which are not subtle at all, and then listen as she struggles to get through.
Sonny Hostin was forced to make a “legal comment” on The View that Matt Gaetz was found to have done nothing wrong after a three-year Justice Department investigation. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/wiz0OhynFK
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 20, 2024
GOLDBERG: Sunny, you have a legal notice.
HOSTIN: I have a legal notice. Thanks, Whoopi.
Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations, calling the allegation quote “made up” and saying in a statement to ABC News: “This false slander, following a three-year criminal investigation, should be viewed with great skepticism.” The DOJ investigation was reported with concluded No charges will be filed.”
GOLDBERG: We’ll be right back.
Never has a show host wanted to rip out his producer’s heart more in that moment than Hostin. Just before she begins to read the statement, she feels a kind of cramp. From then on you can tell she’s doing everything she can to hold the whole thing together. Hostin not I would like to offer this correction, but even overpaid elites must play by the rules of the legal system. Well, at least sometimes.
I’d like to say that this will be a lesson learned, but that won’t be the case. I’m also not sure Gaetz should still not take legal action if he feels so inclined. None of this will ever stop until people are held accountable. This is plain: Until there is actual, verifiable evidence that Gaetz did any of the things alleged in the now-closed DOJ investigation, news organizations (yes, “The View” runs under the ABC News banner) should. keep your hands off it. It could be bad for your wallet if you don’t.
