Staff Reports
The hosts of ABC’s “The View” have always had a knack for stirring the pot, particularly when it comes to President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. With a fashionable combination of snark and sensationalism, they’ve turned discussing politics into an art form of outright disdain. However, this time, they found themselves in a bit of a legal pickle after their jabs at Trump allies landed them in hot water.
Recent episodes showcased (or maybe showcased is too generous) the hosts’ verbal blitz against George Santos, the former New York Congressman. Joy Behar took the lead, tossing around the phrase “23 criminal charges” like a hot potato. After making the uncontroversial leap to accusations centered on wire fraud and money laundering, she suddenly sprang a legal disclaimer on viewers, suggesting all was not as it appeared. Apparently, ABC headquarters fired off a note faster than a Democrat can blame Trump, pushing Behar to admit Santos had struck a plea deal. Talk about an unexpected twist, right out of a low-budget courtroom drama!
Watch: 'The View' Hosts Forced To Read Four 'Legal Notes' On Friday For Lying, And It Was Glorious https://t.co/hENXAkJosk
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 25, 2024
But the fun didn’t stop there. Sunny Hostin wasn’t going to let Santos steal all the thunder. The legal eagle of the group interjected concerning Matt Gaetz, who recently stepped back from a nomination for attorney general. Hostin leaned on her legal committee like a crutch, emphasizing that Gaetz has fervently denied any allegations and has not been charged with a thing regarding those persistent rumors. This begs the curious question: why does ABC feel the need to wrap the news in a cautionary blanket if everything is on the up and up?
From the springboard of chaos, the legal clarifications continued with Jeremy’s favorite, Pete Hegseth. Sunny once again dug into the legal bag, proclaiming that Hegseth’s lawyer suggested a payment was made to stave off a “baseless lawsuit.” The implication here is crystal clear: even the notion of wrongdoing seems to bubble up in any conversation about conservatives. A sharp contrast indeed to how Democrats are often presented as innocent until proven guilty – or guilty and still running for president.
As if that wasn’t enough legalese for one episode, the frantic troubleshooting didn’t shy away from Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General. The rumors linking her to quid pro quo with Trump had Hostin reading yet another legal note for viewers, assuring them that both Trump and Bondi firmly denied any impropriety. Apparently, allegations are the new political currency, especially when it involves Trump’s friends.
The legal acrobatics during this episode might just have warranted a trophy for “Most Clarifications in a Single Show.” Ana Navarro even chipped in with a cheeky remark about the show turning into a legal brief reading, as if to reflect back on the absurdity of the situation. Nonetheless, it seems like the hosts of “The View” may want to invest in a law degree or at least a good lawyer if they plan to keep their political commentary on the straight and narrow. The spectacle is hard to ignore: it’s one thing to be entertaining, another to have a legal team on speed dial.
