A legal firestorm surrounding “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin’s husband, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Emmanuel “Manny” Hostin, is causing serious tension behind the scenes at ABC News, insiders say.
“It’s been discussed internally,” one source tells at the ABC talk show. “But no one is sure what to make of it.”
The controversy exploded after Dr. Hostin and his practice, Hostin Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, were named in a sweeping federal lawsuit filed in New York. The case lists over 180 defendants and alleges insurance fraud under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
Federal Lawsuit Alleges Widespread Fraud Scheme
According to The Daily Mail, Hostin and others are accused of receiving kickbacks for surgeries and submitting false claims to insurance providers covering Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers. The lawsuit claims Hostin received an “investment” stake in Empire State Ambulatory Surgery Center and, in return, benefited from a “steady stream” of patient referrals.
Hostin’s attorney told The Daily Mail his client denies all the allegations and called the filing a “blanket, scattershot, meritless lawsuit by a near-bankrupt insurance carrier.”
The federal case, now filed in the Eastern District of New York, has the potential to drag on for years, with legal experts suggesting it could result in massive financial penalties. American Transit, the insurance firm behind the lawsuit, alleges that Hostin and others manipulated New York’s no-fault laws to rack up “hundreds of millions” in fraudulent claims between 2009 and December 2024.
Silence on Set as Critics Cry Hypocrisy
As the lawsuit gains public attention, some inside ABC have grown increasingly uncomfortable with Hostin’s silence.
A former ABC insider didn’t mince words: “It’s pretty hypocritical,” they said, noting how quick Hostin typically is to criticize Republicans on-air. “Now she’s not even talking about it on the show. It’s death by a thousand cuts. This is just another thing to make people not trust [The View] and not take them seriously.”
Critics Say Hostin’s Credibility is on the Line
Hostin’s regular commentary on high-profile legal issues—including her outspoken takes on charges against President-elect Donald Trummay now draw more scrutiny.
“Sunny Hostin will only look more foolish when she pontificates about ethics and morality and the rule of law,” Joe Concha said.
Although she’s been tight-lipped on her husband’s legal issues, Hostin did reference his profession last month during a discussion about corporate influence in the healthcare sector, following the tragic death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“Doctors suffer because of big corporations as well, doctors that want to do good like my husband,” Hostin told her colleagues. “[He] operates on someone even though they don’t have insurance and then has to sue health insurance companies to get paid for the work that he’s been trained his whole life to do.”
Experts Predict Limited Fallout—But More Awkward Moments Ahead
Media analysts remain split on how much fallout this scandal will cause for “The View” or ABC News more broadly.
“It would be a stretch to claim that anything he did or did not do relates to Ms. Hostin, much less her ability to offer her opinions on ‘The View,’” Cornell Law School professor William A. Jacobson told.
DePauw University journalism professor Jeffrey McCall agreed, suggesting the lawsuit won’t become a central media narrative. “It does have a certain sensationalism to it in that Sunny is an outspoken personality on a rather raucous commentary program, but the interest factor is probably rather low for most American news consumers,” McCall said.
A Viral Quote Comes Back to Haunt
Fueling the tension further is a viral clip from March 2023 in which Hostin weighed in harshly on the implications of insurance fraud.
“Prosecutors are like, ‘Oh really? Well, how about we add some additional fraud charges onto you?’ And they’re talking about threatening him with insurance fraud, which I would say you could get 20 years in prison. So that’s a death sentence for him,” Hostin said at the time, referring to former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.
That quote has resurfaced across social media, prompting questions about whether Hostin will address the apparent contradiction on air.
High Stakes for All Involved
Legal experts warn that the RICO filing is no ordinary case. Its complexity and potential duration could mean years of litigation for Dr. Hostin and his fellow defendants.
With ABC still reeling from its $16 million settlement with former President Trump over a separate defamation suit, this added controversy couldn’t come at a worse time.
As the legal battle unfolds, viewers and insiders alike are watching closely to see whether Sunny Hostin will continue to avoid the topic—or be forced to confront it head-on.
