The subpoena escalates a brewing battle between the panel’s Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government and the company, Authentic Campaigns, which previously rebuffed lawmakers’ demands to turn over any communications the company had with Merchan, noting they simply don’t exist.
The letter from Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asks CEO Mike Nellis to sit for a deposition with the company and sign a sworn affidavit that the company never communicated with Merchan.
Nellis had previously mocked Jordan, calling it absurd to suggest that his company would have any dealings with an employee’s parent, while noting that the firm does not perform services for the campaigns of either President Biden or Vice President Harris, and its political work has no connection to the outcome of Trump’s hush money trial.
Jordan nonetheless asked Wednesday for a sworn affidavit that the company combed its records for any relevant communications dealing with Trump’s prosecution.