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Lara Trump downplays hush money charges as simple 'bookkeeping error'https://t.co/5RRhwr8xHe

— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 18, 2024

The ex-president's campaign circulated talking points ahead of the trial, which started Monday, directing surrogates to describe the case as a "a full-frontal assault on American Democracy and the Constitution" and a "witch hunt," and recommending that supporters do not refer to the case as a "hush money case," but to instead describe it as "entries in the company’s records."

Oops.

I assume this will be played in dopey’s trial. I’m sure his defense wont be to try and deny his reimbursements to Cohen were for his payment to Stormy, since he confessed to that over a year ago. https://t.co/PyHATkkPzd

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 18, 2024

That’s known by a technical legal term called: “confession.” Part of the crime here is that Trump hid the payments to Stormy Daniels by repaying Michael Cohen for paying her, and booking the payments as “legal fees.” And yet here he is, confessing he made the payments to her personally, so that he can’t be guilty of campaign finance law violations. 34 of them, according to the indictment. But for business fraud, not violating campaign finance laws.

But he did it in the first place to quell the story, after the Access Hollywood tape torpedoed his campaign. Which, the indictment alleges, is the crime that makes the fraud a felony. It was an unreported campaign contribution, which couldn’t be reported because that was the purpose for paying it. And the purpose for hiding it.

Besides: a “mere” bookkeeping error made 34 times? Pull the other one, it’s got bells on it.