‘You’re Literally Repeating What I Just Said’: Maggie Haberman Butts Heads with Attorney Once Dubbed the ‘Lawyer for America’s Tabloid Villains’

CNN’s Maggie Haberman mixed it up with criminal defense attorney Arthur Aidala over the trial of former President Donald Trump.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to cover up extramarital affairs before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and denies the affairs.

Hours after the defense rested on Tuesday, Kaitlan Collins noted on The Source that Judge Juan Merchan’s instructions to the jury could have a substantial impact on how the case is decided.

“If you’re the defense attorney and you’re making that argument about what the instructions can be and what this looks like for the jury, I mean, it could truly decide this verdict,” she said.

“Absolutely,” Haberman replied. “It is absolutely true that prosecutors are asking for a very broad interpretation of what could be allowed.”

She went on to call the case “very complicated” before Aidala, whom the New York Times once called, “The Nice-Guy Lawyer for America’s Tabloid Villains,” interrupted.

“It’s because they never happened before,” he said.

“Hang on,” Haberman shot back.

“Prosecutions don’t get crowdsourced, but… when you’re dealing with a former president and a current, you know, presumptive nominee, the circumstances are what they are,” she said.

After some analysis by CNN’s Elie Honig, Aidala returned to Haberman’s remarks.

Aidala and Haberman then had the following exchange:

AIDALA: There are elements that do make this difference where, Ms. Haberman, I disagree with you. There are elements– him being the president has nothing to do with the jury charge. Nothing.

HABERMAN: You didn’t– you’re completely misrepresenting what I just said.

AIDALA: I thought you just said

[CROSSTALK]

AIDALA: I thought you said it was complicated because–

HABERMAN: What I said–

AIDALA: –it’s a former president of the United States–

HABERMAN: No, that is not what I said. What I said was that prosecutions don’t get crowdsourced. Typically, you don’t actually pay attention to the political realm. But in this case, it is understandable. And I’m not talking about the jury charge. You totally misunderstood what I said.

AIDALA: Ok.

HABERMAN: You misrepresented it.

AIDALA: Ok. Regarding the jury charge, then I’ll go after Elie–

HABERMAN: Do whatever you want.

AIDALA: It’s usually not complicated to describe the elements of the crime. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution has the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that Mr. X caused the death of Ms. Y–”

HABERMAN: You’re literally repeating what I just said.

AIDALA: –on this day.

HABERMAN: You’re literally repeating what I just said.

AIDALA: Ok, so we’re agreeing.

COLLINS: She said it was “complicated.”

HABERMAN [TO AIDALA]: I know you had to take the position that I must be taking something oppositional to you, but that’s actually what I was saying.

Haberman then moved on to another subject.

Watch above via CNN.