Sunny Hostin faces backlash over Cornell sexual assault case defense

Sunny Hostin, a co-host of ‘The View’ and former prosecutor, is facing backlash following her defense of the Tompkins County District Attorney’s decision not to bring charges in a Cornell University sexual assault case.

Hostin argued on the program that the accuser’s 2024 police statement did not provide sufficient legal grounds for a criminal case under New York law, specifically citing the accuser's voluntary intoxication. Hostin also criticized the online portrayal of the accused fraternity members, noting they have not been charged or adjudicated.

However, new reporting has challenged Hostin’s assessment. A transcript of the accuser’s interview with Cornell campus police, obtained by CBS News, reportedly contains an explicit allegation of rape and a description of being “completely and totally incapacitated.” Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated he never received this full transcript, noting that if such statements had been provided, the office would have explored the matter further.