I knew watching "The View" after Donald Trump's election victory would be entertaining, but I didn't expect it to be this good. In one of the best things to ever occur on the show, Sunny Hostin was forced to issue an on-air correction about Matt Gaetz, and her reaction was priceless.
So what was the correction about? While discussing as-of-now unsubstantiated allegations against Gaetz, Hostin made the following statement.
HOSTIN: My understanding, further on in the interview, they discuss the fact that once she finds out that she's 17, he stops having sex with her.
Whatever one thinks of Gaetz as a person and Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Justice, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. In this case, the FBI and DOJ spent years investigating the aforementioned allegations, but they never found any grounds to bring charges - because the two main witnesses were not credible, as RedState's Jennifer Van Laar explained in this piece Tuesday night.
READ MORE: SHENANIGANS! 'Hacker' Allegedly Downloaded Sealed Deposition of Discredited Gaetz Accuser
Further, Gaetz claimed there was a conspiracy against him, and that was proven correct.
SEE: Matt Gaetz Proven Right After Surprise Indictment Drops
In mid-2021, Stephen Alford was indicted for attempting to extort Gaetz's father in a scheme related to the sex-trafficking allegations.
A Florida developer and fraud convict was arrested Tuesday on a charge that he tried to extort $25 million from the father of Rep. Matt Gaetz in exchange for a presidential pardon that would shut down a high-profile, criminal sex-trafficking investigation into the Republican congressman.
Stephen Alford, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, was indicted on charges of wire fraud and destruction of property subject to a seizure warrant.
At the time, the DOJ investigation was still ongoing. That has now ended, which means any pointed claims that Gaetz did what Hostin said could be defamatory. The legal team over at "The View" obviously realized that, and during a commercial break, they wrote up a correction to be read on-air, citing a statement provided by Gaetz.
What's so great about this is just how much Hostin clearly didn't want to read it. Watch her facial expressions, which are not subtle in the slightest, and then listen to her struggle to make it through.
Sonny Hostin was forced to issue a “legal note” on The View that Matt Gaetz was found to have done nothing wrong after a three year DOJ investigation. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/wiz0OhynFK
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 20, 2024
GOLDBERG: Sunny, you have a legal note.
HOSTIN: I do have a legal note. Thank you, Whoopi.
Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations, calling the claims quote, "Invented," and saying in a statement to ABC News that "This false smear following a three-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great skepticism. The DOJ investigation was closed with no charges being brought."
GOLDBERG: We'll be right back.
Never has a show host wanted to rip the heart out of their producer more than Hostin in that moment. Just before she starts reading the statement, she has some kind of spasm. From there, you can tell she's doing everything she can to hold it together. Hostin did not want to offer that correction, but even overpaid elites have to play by the rules of the legal system. Well, at least sometimes.
I'd like to say this will be a lesson learned, but it won't be. I'm also not sure Gaetz still shouldn't pursue legal action if he's so inclined. None of this will ever stop until people are held accountable. This is simple: Until there is actual, verifiable evidence Gaetz did any of the things alleged in the now-closed DOJ investigation, news organizations (yes, "The View" is under the ABC News banner) should steer clear. It could be harmful to their wallets if they don't.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member