Hostin had spoken minutes earlier about the allegations against Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department.

“How could you nominate someone with child trafficking or cross-state trafficking charges and have sex with a 17-year-old?” Hostin asked viewers, according to a clip from Tuesday’s show that was shared on X.

“I understand later in the interview it’s discussed that once he finds out she’s 17, he stops having sex with her,” added Hostin, a former federal prosecutor.

Just three minutes later, co-host Whoopi Goldberg stopped the discussion by saying, “Sunny, you have a legal memo.”

“Yes, Whoopi, thanks,” Hostin replied before reading the note.

“Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations,” she intoned, “calling the claims ‘fabricated’ 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 without charges,” Hostin concluded.

Right after, Goldberg went to a commercial break.

Gaetz, 42, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, and the Justice Department closed its sex-trafficking investigation in early 2023 without him being criminally charged.

The Florida congressman resigned on Nov. 13, days before the House Ethics Committee was to vote on whether to issue a report on its own investigation into allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. drugs, among other violations.

The clip of Hostin dropping the legal disclaimer went viral after it was shared on X by conservative internet personality Collin Rugg, who wrote: “Sunny Hostin fumes as she is forced to read a legal memo just minutes after presenting Matt Gaetz’s allegations as ‘fact.'”

X-users were quick to mock Hostin for her mistake, with one person writing, “You just know ABC told her she had to or they’d fire her to prevent the network from being sued.”

Another commenter chirped: “You know Hostin is a serial liar when The View forces her to read legal notices after her comments.”

Originally published as A dejected-looking Sunny Hostin was forced to read an awkward legal memo on ‘The View’ after trashing Matt Gaetz over the DOJ docket