House GOP targets daughter of Trump hush-money judge in conflict of interest probe
SUMMARY
House GOP lawmakers are investigating a potential conflict of interest involving New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who is presiding over Donald Trump’s hush-money trial. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, has requested documents from Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, related to her work with the progressive consulting firm Authentic Campaigns. The committee is particularly interested in any communications between her firm and the Democratic National Committee or President Biden’s re-election campaign. The investigation stems from concerns that Ms. Merchan’s firm could benefit financially from the prosecution of Trump, which her father is overseeing. Despite calls for recusal due to these perceived conflicts, Judge Merchan has remained on the case. The committee's inquiry could lead to legislative proposals to allow presidents to move local prosecutions to federal venues to avoid potential political bias.
