How did Jesus repond to the criticism?

He didn't. I don't think He protested, but that He presented His case. Apart from pharisees and saducees that he exposed as sons of vipers (read Matthew 23) who knew the truth about Him but chose to stay in darkness, there were always people around who were just dragged by the popular opinion.

Read well, Jesus didn't try to plead non-guilty, He constantly showed who He was.