In a rather entertaining yet somewhat exasperating moment on ABC’s “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin was required to read a legal disclaimer stating that her allegations regarding former United States Congressman Matt Gaetz remain unsubstantiated, and that he has refuted all accusations made against him.
To provide context, President-elect Donald Trump has declared his intention to appoint Matt Gaetz, the former congressman known for his controversial stance, as Attorney General. Gaetz was under investigation for alleged ethical breaches prior to his withdrawal from the House following Trump’s announcement of his nomination.
In a post on Truth Social, President-elect Trump stated, “It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States. Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice. Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.”
He further elaborated, “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department. On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution. We must have Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency at DOJ. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again.”
Due to the investigation into Gaetz, the details of which were never made public, and his more extreme alignment with right-wing ideologies compared to previous GOP figures, he has encountered numerous criticisms from the left. Among his critics were the co-hosts of “The View,” especially Sunny Hostin, who vehemently criticized him during discussions regarding Trump’s appointments.
Subsequently, as the conversation shifted away from Gaetz, Whoopi Goldberg interjected, stating, “Sunny, you have a legal note.” In response, Hostin acknowledged, “I do have a legal note. Thank you, Whoopi,” before addressing the audience directly to convey the lawyers’ statement.
While reading the note, Hostin remarked, “Matt Gaetz has consistently denied all allegations, labeling the accusations as ‘invented,’ and asserting 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 concluded without any charges being filed.” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a staunch supporter of Trump, reacted to the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Sonny Hostin was compelled to present a ‘legal note’ on The View confirming that Matt Gaetz was found to have committed no wrongdoing after a three-year DOJ investigation. Enjoy.”
