Why The View had to read a legal note about Matt Gaetz allegations

During a segment of 'The View', Sunny Hostin was asked to read a legal note from Matt Gaetz's legal team declaring his innocence, shortly after she and her colleagues discussed allegations regarding US President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general nominee's involvement with an underage individual.
The legal note said, "Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations, calling the claims 'invented' and saying in a statement to ABC News that 'this false smear following a 3-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great scepticism. That DOJ investigation was closed with no charges being brought.'"
The incident gained significant attention online, with viewers observing Hostin's apparent discomfort whilst reading the statement.
Famous media personality Collin Rugg shared footage of the incident, highlighting the contrast between Hostin's initial discussion of the allegations and her subsequent reading of the legal note.

Social media reactions were abundant, with numerous users commenting on Hostin's visible displeasure during the reading.
"The View's Sunny Hostin gave a "legal note" today regarding the allegations against Matt Gaetz that he did nothing wrong. Just listen. She did NOT want to do this," one user said.
"The View host Sonny Hostin looks like a hostage when ABC forced her to tell the viewers the DOJ investigated Rep. Gaetz and declined to bring charges," another commented.
"Sonny Hostin was forced to make a “legal note” that Matt Gaetz was found to have done nothing wrong… After trashing him, stating he had sex with an underage girl… Look at her face.. she did not want to make that statement," one said.
The context surrounds Donald Trump's recent selection of Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida as his prospective attorney general. Trump announced on Truth Social that Gaetz would address issues of justice system partisanship and restore public confidence in the Department of Justice.
Subsequently, attorney Joel Leppard, representing two female witnesses who testified before the House Ethics Committee, brought forward allegations. He said that one client observed Gaetz in a compromising situation with a 17-year-old at a Florida gathering in 2017. Leppard also claimed Gaetz had paid his adult clients for intimate relations.