NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump sat and watched as the judge presiding over his historic trial gave instructions to the jury that could bode poorly for his prospects of acquittal in the Manhattan hush money case.

The jury is now deliberating whether to convict or acquit Trump over the 34 counts of falsification of business records he faces in the trial. Judge Juan Merchan told the jury that the burden of proof is on the prosecution and not Trump, noting that just because the former president did not testify in the case does not mean his silence can be used as a factor for determining guilt or innocence “beyond a reasonable doubt.”