'Pre-holiday desperation': Donald Trump faces backlash as he rants about 'bookkeeping error' in latest attack on hush money judge

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump blasted the judge presiding over his hush money trial on social media on Friday, May 24, implying that the accusations in the case were based on a straightforward "bookkeeping error," according to The Hill.

Referring to the payment he made to ex-fixer Michael Cohen, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "The bookkeeping error that I am being incorrectly and unconstitutionally prosecuted for is the fact that a bookkeeper, innocently and correctly, called a 'Legal Expense' paid to a lawyer, a 'Legal Expense.'"

Trump slams hush-money judge in recent Truth Social post

Trump added, "IN EVEN SIMPLER WORDS, I CALLED A LEGAL EXPENSE, A LEGAL EXPENSE. WHAT THE HELL ELSE WOULD YOU CALL IT? A BIDEN-INSPIRED ELECTION INTERFERENCE HOAX!!!"

Notably, Trump, who faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the 2016 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair. Trump has denied the affair ever took place.

Trump also wrote on Truth Social, "When the Disgraceful District Attorney and his Thugs, WITH FULL APPROVAL, I assume, by the Highly Conflicted Judge, Juan Merchan, and the Crooked Joe Biden Administration, who are leading the Trial for ELECTION INTERFERENCE purpose, keep talking about the ‘bookkeeping error’ or ‘crime,’ they are referring to the fact that a bookkeeper, with zero influence from or discussion with me, correctly called the payment of a Legal Expense to a lawyer — a Legal Expense."

He further stated, "In other words, I am being prosecuted because a bookkeeper, who I had no contact with, marked down, from a dropdown menu in the ledger, a Legal Expense to a lawyer as ‘Legal Expense."

His latest criticism of Judge Merchan comes as the first criminal trial of a sitting or former president concludes. Earlier this week, both sides rested their cases. Closing arguments are scheduled for May 28, after which the jury will begin deliberations.

Moreover, 22 witnesses, including Cohen and Daniels, testified over the 16-day witness testimony period. Trump, who is expected to be the Republican contender for the presidency, reiterated his belief that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initiated the prosecution as a political ploy.

In a separate post on Friday, Trump wrote, "….For this ridiculous charge, Millions of Dollars have been spent on the PERSECUTION of a Popular President (Got more Votes than any sitting President in History!), and the current Leader in the Polls against his Democrat Opponent, Crooked Joe Biden, without whom NO CASE WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED."

He added, "Any other Judge would not have allowed this SCAM to proceed, and neither did D.A. Bragg, nor any other Agency in Government, want to bring it. We are fighting against a Rigged New York System of ‘Justice.’ WITCH HUNT!"

Internet slams Trump as he takes jibes at Judge Merchan in social media post

Several internet users trolled Donald Trump after he criticized Judge Merchan, implying that the accusations in the case were based on a simple "bookkeeping error."

A user wrote on X, "I love the smell of pre-holiday desperation," while one added, "Paying off a porn star is not a legal expense. That’s the problem!"

A person also stated, "Paying a settlement is not a 'legal expense' under the tax code," whereas one mentioned, "Bookkeeping error? You’re always 'the Victim.'"

A user also wrote, "What else would you call it? How about 'Reimbursement expense to pay hush money to a porn star,'" while one stated, "That’s your story and you’re sticking to it. Not much of a defense considering you have a shyster’s history."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.