Fresh scrutiny on Trump hush-money judge’s daughter

Federal prosecutors in Chicago have been investigating Authentic Campaigns, a Democratic fundraising firm once co-owned by Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, The New York Times reports. Judge Merchan oversaw Donald Trump's hush-money trial, where Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts.

The US attorney's office subpoenaed the firm last August for internal communications with major Democratic clients, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the DNC. Prosecutors later narrowed the probe to focus on a Rs 40,000 payment from Harris's campaign and emails between Loren Merchan and her father, sources told the Times.

The status of the investigation is unclear. Judge Merchan, described by a Manhattan defense attorney as a serious and even-tempered jurist, has faced repeated attacks from Trump, who called him a 'certified Trump hater' and accused him of bias. Trump has also alleged a conflict of interest involving the judge's daughter, without providing evidence.