ABC's 'The View' apologizes for 'defamatory statements' after Turning Point USA threatens suit

The ABC daytime talk show "The View" apologized Wednesday for "defamatory statements" co-host Whoopi Goldberg made about Turning Point USA after the the young conservative group threatened to sue.

The controversy started Monday, When Goldberg said on air that neo-Nazi protesters had been "let in" to the Florida Student Action Summit last week in Tampa, Florida, by members of Turning Point, which was hosting the event. 

Turning Point and its supporters hit back by filing a cease-and-desist ordering ABC News to “retract the defamatory statements” or face legal action and launching a "Sue the View" social media campaign. 

The group of neo-Nazi protesters were on public sidewalks outside of the conference on public sidewalks but not allowed into the event.

"Turning Point 100% condemns those ideologies in the strongest terms," spokesman Andrew Kolvet said. "They had nothing to do with TPUSA, our event, or our students."

On Wednesday, View co-host Sarah Haines clarified on air that the protesters "were gathered outside the event and that they were not invited or endorsed by Turning Point USA." 

"My point was more metaphorical," said Goldberg, who also said  she thought Turning Point “embraced” the protesters. 

Turning Point founder and President Charlie Kirk tweeted: "You cannot smear minors as Nazis and get away with it. It impacts them for the rest of their life,"