The associates of tragic teen Nolan Wells ripped into “The View” co-host Sonny Hostin, blasting the lefty broadcaster as a “moronic” and “toxic” liar — as they threatened to sue her for defamation.
Lawyers representing three of Wells’ associates wrote to Hostin Wednesday demanding she retract, delete and apologize within 10 days for defamatory feedback they say she made –– or face legal penalties.
“Your brand of ‘journalism’ is no Sunny Delight: rather, your ‘brand’ is toxic, moronic, and daft,” attorneys Edward Andrew Paltzik and J. Tyler Cox wrote in the blistering pre-suit demand letter seen by The Post.
The associates of tragic teen Nolan Wells ripped into “The View” co-host Sonny Hostin, blasting the lefty broadcaster as a “moronic” and “toxic” liar — as they threatened to sue her for defamation. Facebook/Christine Wonsley
Wells, second from proper, poses with associates during July 4 celebrations. Facebook/Christine Wonsley
A bunch of people is pictured touring to Horn Island. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
“We now understand why, instead of seeking justice, you now work for The View, a show that long betrayed any semblance of fairness, reason, or common sense,” they added.
Paltzik and Cox signify Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour, three buddies who were with Wells on Horn Island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast before he went lacking during a July 4 boating journey.
The school soccer participant, 18, was discovered useless on the shoreline two days later, prompting questions from Wells’ mother and father and online newbie sleuths about why his associates left him behind and were allegedly in possession of his cellphone and keys.
“We now understand why, instead of seeking justice, you now work for The View, a show that long betrayed any semblance of fairness, reason, or common sense,” the attorneys added. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
Authorities have said they believe Wells drowned and do not suspect foul play, while official post-mortem outcomes have still not been made public over two months on.
Paltzik and Cox took intention at former federal prosecutor Hostin, 57, over feedback she allegedly made about the case on The View’s “Behind the Table” podcast on July 13 and on a section about the Wells case aired on The View the following day.
According to the pre-suit letter, she referred to “a lot of inconsistencies” regarding Wells’ cellphone and “social media profiles being erased,” an obvious reference to claims that Snapchat messages may have been deleted from Wells’ cellphone.
Hostin said she discovered it “extremely odd” that “the three boys he went on the boat with” had not confronted separate interviews at the police division, including, “I don’t know that that’s happened here, and that is shocking to me,” according to the letter.
The Tideline is pictured towing the Triton back to the mainland following a mechanical situation. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
In the section which aired on “The View” the following day, Hostin allegedly said that there were “some racial undertones” to the case and that Wells “was the only black kid on an island full of kids that were white,” according to the letter.
She was also said to have claimed “three boys with him that were good friends with him” had “kept his phone and didn’t give it to his parents.”
Here’s the newest on the disappearance and death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells:
Contrary to those claims, Paltzik and Cox denied that their shoppers ever touched or had “actual possession of Nolan’s phone,” which they said had been introduced back to land by the wider group of associates and saved secure in another pal’s truck.
The legal professionals said of their three shoppers that “at no time did they alter, delete, modify, or erase any data or information on Nolan’s phone” and claimed that the cellphone was returned to a buddy of Wells’ household “without incident or delay” by a feminine buddy.
Wells is pictured with associates on Horn Island. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
They claimed that Hudson, Pitalo and Seymour had, in reality, traveled to the island on totally different boats from Nolan and had never been alone with him there.
They also denied that Wells was “the only black kid on an island full of kids that were white,” and claimed that their shoppers had “repeatedly cooperated with law enforcement and turned their phones in for inspection long ago.”
The legal professionals described Hostin’s feedback as “allegations of murder, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence,” including that they have “no basis in evidence or reality.”
“It is hard to fathom the pure negligence and recklessness you have shown through your multiple interviews regarding these young men and the tragic death of their friend, Nolan Wells,” their letter said.
The legal professionals described Hostin’s feedback as “allegations of murder, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence,” including that they have “no basis in evidence or reality.” Taylor and Cox Law Firm
“It is hard to fathom the pure negligence and recklessness you have shown through your multiple interviews regarding these young men and the tragic death of their friend, Nolan Wells,” their letter said. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
“Your unwillingness to analysis the most fundamental information surrounding the incident before commenting publicly is downright baffling.
“Moreover, as a former prosecutor, you of all people should know the importance of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ You swore an oath with that principle in mind.”
The legal professionals also blasted Hostin for allegedly having a battle of curiosity in overlaying the case due to her “extremely close personal relationship” with Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney representing Wells’ household.
Wells is pictured in the water with associates. Taylor and Cox Law Firm
They claimed that Hostin was “starstruck” by Crump and admitted on air that her daughter Paloma was interning with him this summer time.
“It is abundantly clear that you were not acting as an objective journalist when you defamed Warren, Jax, and Morgan, but rather, you were acting as a mouthpiece for Mr. Crump,” Paltzik and Cox wrote. “This is unacceptable.”
Last month, the legal professionals despatched a separate pre-suit demand letter to the Reverend Al Sharpton, who has publicly supported the Wells household and officiated Wells’ funeral in his hometown of Ocean Springs on Jul. 20.
Sharpton has denied defaming or accusing Hudson, Pitalo and Seymour of any crime and insisted that he has been asking questions at the middle of the investigation into Wells’ death, CNN reported.
The Post reached out to a rep for Hostin for remark.