House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena Related to Judge's Daughter's Political Work in Trump Prosecution

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan issues a subpoena to Authentic Campaigns CEO Michael Nellis seeking information on the political work conducted by the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over New York's prosecution of former President Trump. The subpoena is part of an investigation into potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of Judge Merchan in the case.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has issued a subpoena seeking information on the political work conducted by the daughter of New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan. The subpoena is part of the committee's investigation into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecution of former President Trump.

The committee has accused Authentic Campaigns CEO Michael Nellis of failing to comply with its request for documents related to the prosecution of Trump. Nellis rejected the request, as did Loren Merchan, the company's president and Judge Merchan's daughter.

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena Related to Judge's Daughter's Political Work in Trump Prosecution

In a letter to Nellis, Jordan said, "As such, the Committee is left with no choice but to resort to compulsory process." He accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of "an unprecedented abuse of authority" in prosecuting Trump, adding that Judge Merchan's impartiality is in question due to his apparent conflicts of interest and biases.

One of the conflicts of interest cited by Jordan is Loren Merchan's work on behalf of Trump's political adversaries, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. According to Jordan, Authentic Campaigns received over $7 million from the Harris campaign and $2 million from the Biden-Harris campaign.

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena Related to Judge's Daughter's Political Work in Trump Prosecution

Jordan's subpoena is narrower in scope than his previous request for information, which demanded documents related to any work for Biden and Harris, in addition to any work that refers to Trump's prosecution or indictment.

Nellis reacted to the subpoena on X, saying, "These allegations against our company are completely false and purely politically motivated." He called it "a blatant attempt to intimidate us and divert attention from Donald Trump's conviction."

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena Related to Judge's Daughter's Political Work in Trump Prosecution

Republicans have accused Judge Merchan of political bias, pointing to his daughter's political work. Trump's legal team asked Merchan to recuse himself before the trial began, but he refused.

A New York state ethics panel backed Merchan's decision in June 2023. However, Jordan argued in his letter that Judge Merchan's conflicts of interest and biases implicate serious federal interests.

House Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoena Related to Judge's Daughter's Political Work in Trump Prosecution

"Congress has a specific and manifestly important interest in preventing politically motivated prosecutions of current and former presidents, especially in venues in which real or perceived biases exist," the letter said.

Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to claims he paid an adult film actress to keep quiet about their affair, which he has denied. His lawyers are appealing the ruling in light of the Supreme Court's July decision fleshing out presidential immunity. His sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Sept. 18.