Sunny Hostin forced to read legal disclaimer on air after falsely accusing Matt Gaetz of ‘child sex crimes’ and ‘child trafficking’

After being reminded by co-host Whoopi Goldberg that she had a “legal note to read,” Hostin said, “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. That DOJ investigation was closed, with no charges being brought.”

Gaetz has endured accusations of having sex with a minor but the Department of Justice closed the case without charges. Yet Hostin persisted in repeating the allegations from her television podium, as she noted her background working within the Department of Justice.

“Within the Department of Justice, you know, you have the sex crimes unit, which is what I was a part of,” Hostin said, speaking of her job in the 2000s. “Child sex crimes and child trafficking. How could you nominate someone with allegations of child trafficking or trafficking across state lines and having sex with a 17-year-old?” she asked her audience, per the Daily Mail.

The segment provoked a lot of discussion on X with many users noting how uncomfortable Hostin appeared doing her duty.

Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives just days after learning of his nomination. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday night that Rep. Matt Gaetz has issued his resignation from Congress "effective immediately" after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be attorney general in the second Trump administration.