House committee subpoenas campaign firm linked to judge’s daughter in Trump trial

On August 28, the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to Mike Nellis, the CEO of Authentic Campaigns, a political marketing firm that employs Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan. The judge is presiding over the hush-money trial involving former President Donald Trump. The subpoena demands Nellis to provide a deposition and a sworn affidavit confirming that Authentic Campaigns has not communicated with Judge Merchan. Additionally, the committee seeks documents related to the company's connections with the Biden-Harris campaign and any correspondence regarding Trump's indictment. Loren Merchan has worked on media campaigns for prominent Democratic figures, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The committee's request comes amid ongoing concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to her association with the judge overseeing Trump's trial. Chairman Jim Jordan emphasized the need for transparency, insisting that if the company claims to have no relevant documents, they must certify that a thorough search was conducted. In response, Nellis criticized the subpoena as an "abuse of power," asserting that the company's political activities do not influence the trial. He labeled the allegations as politically motivated and aimed at promoting unfounded conspiracy theories linking Authentic Campaigns to Trump's legal issues. Nellis expressed determination to resist what he perceives as intimidation tactics from House Republicans. Despite Trump's repeated calls for Judge Merchan to recuse himself due to his daughter's political work, the judge has consistently denied these requests, stating that no new evidence has been presented to warrant a reconsideration of his position.