Hostin made the declaration on The View Tuesday. The hosts were reacting to Monday a report from Politico that revealed the allegations.
Sunny Hostin was met with fierce pushback after proudly admitting she would have voted for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner in last month's primary if he was accused of rape at the time.
Hostin made the declaration on The View Tuesday. The hosts were reacting to a Monday report from Politico that revealed 41-year-old Jenny Racicot's allegations that Platner entered her Maine home without permission and raped her in 2021.
Platner posted a video on X to deny the allegations - the latest against him after three former romantic partners told The New York Times that they were subject to disturbing behavior from Platner, also 41, during their relationships.
One of the women was Racicot, she revealed in a CNN interview on Monday. Platner also had a tattoo recognized as a Nazi SS symbol earlier this year.
Republican Alyssa Farah Griffin kicked things off by calling Racicot's allegations 'credible and corroborated.' She also called the allegations against Platner 'damning' and 'horrific,' urging him to 'drop out.'
Sara Haines agreed. She gave Griffin credit for saying the tattoo - as well as resurfaced, bigoted and misogynistic Reddit comments written by Platner between 2013 and 2021 - should have already been disqualifying.
'But like Alyssa, I was off Platner a long time ago,' she disclaimed - before calling attention to what she sees as 'a disgusting time in politics' where voters pick by party and not the person.
'And if you are one of those people that was willing to plug your nose, you’re the problem,' she said - inadvertently singling out Hostin, who offered her take.
Sunny Hostin was met with pushback on Tuesday's installment of The View after admitting she would have voted for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner in last month's primary
A former girlfriend of the oyster farmer-turned Senate candidate said he entered her Maine home without permission and raped her in 2021
'Well, then, I’m the problem. Because I was one of those people,' she began.
The host gestured at her face to emphasize how she would still 'have plugged my nose and would have voted for him anyway' if she was a Maine resident.
'I think that we are in a time of existential crisis in this country,' Hostin continued.
She said she felt Republicans 'fall in line,' whereas Democrats 'want to fall in love.'
'The Republican party, the bar is so very low,' she added. 'I can’t believe that they want to try to assume the moral high ground.'
Hostin brought up allegations of binge-drinking brought against current US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
'His sister-in-law submitted a sworn affidavit describing his drinking problem,' Hostin emphasized. She also pointed to Hegseth's 'Deus Vult' and Jerusalem cross tattoos.
She framed the Latin phrase as being 'used by white nationalist groups.' The latter, she said, was 'an extremist symbol.' Hostin also pointed out how Hegseth settled with a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2020.
Hostin said she would still 'have plugged my nose and would have voted for him anyway' if she was a Maine resident
Platner's accuser, 41-year-old Jenny Racicot, detailed the alleged assault during an interview with CNN Monday night
'Why not condemn them all?' Griffin thought to ask, as Hostin spoke over her.
Hostin wagged her finger and slammed the panel's table as the exchange grew tense.
'I'm talking about the Republican party as a whole!' Hostin said.
Over the crosstalk, Griffin outright asked if Hostin would 'be comfortable still voting for Graham Platner?'
Hostin paused, and Joy Behar jumped in to defuse the situation.
She said 'we all agree' that 'this Platner person' should have been thrown out after the emergence of the Nazi-sympathizing tattoo, which Platner had removed after pleading ignorance.'
A few minutes later, Hostin puzzlingly said she thought Platner should now 'step down.'
Hostin was met with pushback from Republican panelist Alyssa Farrah Griffin, who called Hostin out for her party politics
'There's no question about that. He has until, I believe, July 13th,' she said.
Platner - an oyster farmer and Marine veteran - has announced no such plans.
He and his campaign have denied any wrongdoing.