'You just described the crime': Jesse Watters faces criticism after his attempted Trump defense in hush money case backfires

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Jesse Watters seemed to inadvertently describe what Donald Trump allegedly did wrong in the hush money case.

"His lawyer paid Stormy and, after the campaign was over, the money was reimbursed and booked as a legal expense," the Fox News host remarked on April 22, shortly after the commencement of opening statements in the former president's significant trial.

Jesse Watters' legal oversight sparks criticism in Trump defense argument

Prosecutors allege that just before the 2016 election, Donald Trump's attorney at the time, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump from a decade earlier.

This payment was made to hide damaging information from the public before the election. Trump then allegedly reimbursed Cohen through a series of payments falsely categorized as retainer fees from the Trump Organization.

These actions form the basis of the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records that Trump faces.

During his opening statement, Todd Blanche, the lead attorney for Trump, acknowledged that Stormy Daniels had signed a nondisclosure agreement in October 2016 in exchange for $130,000, asserting that this transaction was “completely legal.”

However, he argued that the payments made from Trump’s company to Michael Cohen were not reimbursements for the hush money but rather legitimate legal services.

While discussing the case, Watters seemingly made an oversight by stating, “this wasn’t about campaign business, it was personal,” referring to Trump's efforts to silence Daniels before the election.

Watters then commented, “You can’t use campaign funds for personal matters, and now you can’t use personal funds for personal matters during a campaign? So, I guess the real crime is that Trump ran for president and defeated Hillary Clinton.”

Jesse Watters' statements prompt backlash

Following these developments, netizens seized the opportunity to slam Watters for his statements. 

Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele wrote, "Umm...well...hmm...you know you just described the crime. I don't understand what you don't understand about what you just said."

"I guess the main problem with this is it’s the exact opposite of what Trump’s lawyer said in his opening statement," editor-in-chief of the anti-Trump MeidasTouch network, Ron Filipkowski wrote. 

One X user said, "Booked as a legal expense for the Trump Organization. And, uh, no."

Another user said, "Jesse Explains Crime". 

One more user noted, "This is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Trump's lawyer said in the opening statement."

Another comment read, "Whatever you do, don’t get your legal advice from Jesse Watters."

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