Sunny Hostin invokes federal prosecutor past in son’s trespass stop
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“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin repeatedly reminded police that she was a “former federal prosecutor” after cops stopped her Harvard-educated son for trespassing on Metro-North railroad property; newly released body camera video captured the TV host warning officers to give him a break.
“My name is Sunny Hostin and I am a co-host of ‘The View’ and a former federal prosecutor,” Hostin tells an officer over the phone in body camera video obtained by Fox News Digital.
After arriving at the scene, Hostin continued to make his case.
Body camera video shows “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin talking to MTA police as her son, Gabriel Hostin, stands nearby after he was stopped for trespassing on Metro-North railroad property. (Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA))
“This is my son. He graduated from Harvard. He has no criminal record,” he says. “He’s not a kid who’s going to get in trouble. This is an innocent mistake.”
Gabriel Hostin was stopped by Metropolitan Transportation Authority police shortly before 8 p.m. on June 16 after officers observed him at the Metro-North railroad crossing at the New Rochelle station, according to records obtained by Fox News Digital.
Police claimed he was trespassing in an area marked with “NO TRESPASSING” signs.
“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin speaks with Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officers after her son Gabriel Hostin was stopped for trespassing on Metro-North railroad property in New Rochelle, New York. (Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA))
An MTA Police spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the 23-year-old was observed running near an electrified third rail, then officers stopped him near Commerce Drive, conducted a criminal background check and removed him from the area.
Because Hostin had no criminal history and cooperated with officers, police said he was issued a summons for trespassing and released.
Body camera video shows Gabriel Hostin asking officers if issuing a summons was necessary.
Co-host Sunny Hostin speaks on ABC’s “The View” on July 6, 2026. (ABC/TheView)
“Because this is an arrestable offense. I want to make this clear,” a police officer told him.
“Since you have the right of way, we consider this a trespassing violation.”
The officer goes on to explain that the police took into account his lack of a criminal record.
The officer says, “We know you’re not guilty or anything, but our hands are tied with cameras everywhere.”
Hostin once again urged officers to use common sense.
“He’s a Harvard graduate who teaches fourth-grade geometry to kids in the South Bronx,” he says. “He’s not a kid who’s going to get in trouble. This is an innocent mistake.”
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway sign is seen in New York City on June 29, 2017. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
According to charging documents obtained by Fox News Digital, a police officer allegedly observed Gabriel Hostin violating “NO TRESPASSING” signs on the active railroad at the New Rochelle station.
The citation narrative similarly states that officers observed him on the railroad right-of-way before conducting a permit check that came back negative and issuing him a appearance ticket for trespassing.
The records also include photos of warning signs posted near the entrance to the property that read “TRESSING PROHIBITED – PRIVATE PROPERTY – VIOLators WILL BE PROsecuted” and photos of the gated access point.
Gabriel Hostin is scheduled to appear in New Rochelle City Court on July 31, according to court records.
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In a letter obtained by TMZ, Hostin argued that his son accidentally entered the property after spotting a gravel slope suitable for hill training while jogging.
He said the entrance door was open and a single “No Trespassing” sign was attached to the left door and was not visible when he entered.
The body camera video also sparked outrage online, with many conservative accounts criticizing Hostin for invoking his legal background during the encounter.
The View’s Sunny Hostin claimed that the earthquake, cicadas, and eclipse could be seen as signs of climate change. (screenshot)
TikTok’s Libs compared Hostin’s past statements that “no one is above the law” to his comments to officers that he was a “former federal prosecutor” and that his son was a Harvard graduate with no criminal record.
End Wokeness also published a similar critique, arguing that the images contradicted Hostin’s previous public comments regarding equal treatment under the law.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hostin representatives for comment.
