Federal prosecutors in Chicago have spent the past year examining a Democratic fundraising company that was previously co-owned by Loren Merchan, the daughter of New York judge Juan Merchan, who presided over President Donald Trump’s hush-money trial.
According to court documents and people familiar with the investigation, US Attorney Andrew Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois issued a grand jury subpoena to Authentic Campaigns Inc. in August 2024, seeking a wide range of internal communications involving the firm and its political clients.
The requested material included communications involving former Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Joe Biden, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Democratic National Committee.
Loren Merchan, who served as the company’s vice president before leaving in late 2024, was also included in the subpoena.
The investigation emerged after Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee referred the matter to the Justice Department. The referral followed the refusal of Authentic Campaigns founder Mike Nellis to provide lawmakers with confidential communications, including correspondence involving Loren Merchan and her father.
The subpoena was later narrowed following legal challenges from the company. Prosecutors reportedly focused on a $468 payment made by Harris’ presidential campaign and emails exchanged between Loren Merchan and her father.
It remains unclear whether the investigation is still active. People familiar with the matter said prosecutors have not issued additional subpoenas to individuals, potentially indicating that the inquiry is no longer being actively pursued.
Nellis criticised the investigation, describing it as politically motivated.
“The Trump administration’s targeting of my company is an outrageous abuse of power,” Nellis said. “It is a ridiculous fishing expedition based on conspiracy theories that are completely divorced from reality.”
He added that the investigation appeared aimed at obtaining sensitive political communications belonging to Democratic clients who were prominent opponents of Trump.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment, while Juan Merchan and Loren Merchan also did not respond to requests for comment.
The investigation follows repeated claims from Trump and his allies that Judge Merchan should have recused himself from the hush-money case because of his daughter’s work in Democratic politics.
Trump was convicted in 2024 on 34 felony counts related to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with him.
During the trial, Trump repeatedly attacked Merchan and his daughter. In March 2024, he wrote on Truth Social:
“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately. His Daughter, Loren, is a Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me, and yet he gagged me.”
Merchan rejected calls to step aside and continued to preside over the case. An ethics complaint filed by Trump allies also failed to remove him from the proceedings.
After Trump returned to the White House, Merchan ultimately closed the criminal case without imposing a sentence or penalty.
Republican lawmakers nevertheless continued investigating Authentic Campaigns. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan had previously demanded documents from the company, citing allegations that the firm may have used Trump’s prosecution and conviction in fundraising campaigns for Democratic candidates.
In an August 2024 letter, Jordan wrote to Loren Merchan:
“Experts have raised substantial concerns with Judge Merchan, your father, refusing to recuse himself from President Trump’s case despite your work on behalf of President Trump’s political adversaries and the financial benefit that your firm, Authentic Campaigns Inc., could receive from the prosecution and conviction.”
Attorneys representing Authentic Campaigns rejected the allegations, arguing that Loren Merchan had no influence over her father’s judicial decisions and did not have contact with many of the campaigns represented by the company.
They accused Jordan of conducting a politically driven “inquisition” and said both Loren Merchan and Nellis had received enough threats from Trump supporters to require security measures.
