A key organizer for the liberal voting group “White Dudes for Harris” is refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena issued by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), which involves allegations of collusion between his firm and Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan.
“I am objecting to the subpoena issued by Jim Jordan and the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee in its entirety. This subpoena serves no legitimate legislative purpose — making it invalid, unconstitutional, and unenforceable,” posted Authentic Campaigns CEO Mike Nellis on X Friday.
The controversy stems from a potential conflict of interest related to Loren Merchan’s role as president of Authentic Campaigns, a major Democratic digital marketing firm. Loren is the daughter of Judge Merchan, who is overseeing former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York over the alleged improper filing of business documents. Last month, Jordan requested Nellis sit for a deposition and sign a sworn affidavit stating that Authentic Campaigns had no contact with Judge Merchan.
Nellis also shared a letter from his legal team stating, “Authentic’s work is in no way connected to former President Trump’s legal proceedings in New York,” adding that the company “has had no role, involvement, or influence whatsoever in those proceedings.”
The letter further condemned Jordan’s insinuations, stating, “Your repeated insinuations… that Judge Merchan may not have been impartial in presiding over former President Trump’s proceedings because of Authentic’s ‘work on behalf of President Trump’s political adversaries and the possible financial benefit that Ms. Merchan and Authentic Campaigns received from the prosecution and conviction of President Trump,’ is as baseless as it is dangerous.”
Loren Merchan also refused to provide the documents Jordan requested concerning Authentic Campaigns’ work with the Biden-Harris reelection campaign. Jordan previously wrote to Merchan in August, stating, “At a minimum, there is a perception that you and Authentic Campaigns could profit considerably from President Trump’s prosecution in a forum overseen by your father.”
