'Success for the prosecution': Legal expert points to 'direct proof of Trump’s state of mind'

Several legal experts have praised Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's team's decision to select former American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker as the first witness in Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial.

The former National Enquirer publisher on Thursday made an admission that may have confirmed the basis of Bragg's case against the ex-president.

Politico reported live during Pecker's testimony that he told prosecutors he believed he was charged with catching and killing unflattering stories about the MAGA hopeful in order to benefit his campaign.

READ MORE: Trump hush money trial transcripts go live amid historic criminal case

Breagg's charges against Trump allege that he covered up hush money payments made to several women claiming to have had sexual relations with former Apprentice star ahead of the 2016 election.

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen shared his insight into what Pecker's admission means for the prosecution with CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez.

The legal analyst wrote via via X (formerly Twitter), "Pecker's testimony today has provided direct proof of Trump's state of mind That's a success for the prosecution, because they must prove Trump's intent to jurors beyond a reasonable doubt."

Jimenez asked Eisen "how critical" that portion of the former media tycoon's testimony to Bragg's case.

READ MORE: David Pecker believed he was killing unflattering stories about Trump 'for the campaign'

"It's very important because what you had today in the testimony was Pecker testifying that they set up the payoff to Karen McDougal," the Brookings senior fellow said. "But then for legal reasons, namely campaign finance violation — which is what the prosecutors are alleging here — he pulled back. And he told Michael Cohen 'tear it up.' So, that was a very dramatic testimony."

Eisen continued, "And then, of course, you had a number of direct communications — positive and negative — between Pecker and Donald Trump that came into evidence, so that is direct proof of Trump's state of mind."

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