Trump Presses Habba Over $50 Million Contract
Trump privately objected to the size of a contract held by Alina Habba, his former personal attorney, and told aides and allies she should direct some of the proceeds to a library he plans to establish or another organization associated with him. The four-year agreement guarantees Habba more than $50 million, including $10 million annually and bonuses.
The contract is with Concord Partners, a company launched by the daughter of Venezuelan businessman Julio Herrera Velutini. Habba agreed last year to become its general counsel while serving in the Justice Department, and began the position on January 1. The company has little public profile, and its activities are unclear to some people connected to the family’s businesses.
Trump granted Herrera a complete and unconditional pardon after Herrera had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign-finance violation in 2025. He had initially faced felony bribery charges. Habba has denied involvement in obtaining the pardon.
Trump told at least one ally that Herrera’s family should end payments for the rest of Habba’s contract, and the message reached the family. He also called Habba about the arrangement, though it was unclear whether he directly asked her to donate. He discussed the matter with former Trump lawyer Christopher Kise, who had represented Herrera and worked on the pardon; Kise would not comment on their conversation.
Habba, Herrera’s relatives and the White House offered no response to requests for comment. It has not been established whether Habba agreed to give any of her earnings to a Trump-related organization.
Trump’s Anger Over Habba Deal Raises Questions About Pardon Politics
The dispute over Alina Habba’s lucrative contract puts the president’s personal interests alongside a pardon granted to the family behind her new employer. Trump was angry that Habba stood to earn more than $50 million from a four-year deal and urged aides and allies to have her direct a portion of the proceeds toward a library he plans to build or another organization bearing his name.
Habba accepted a position the previous year as general counsel for Concord Partners, a company launched by the daughter of Venezuelan businessman Julio Herrera Velutini. She began the role on January 1, after serving in the Justice Department. The company’s purpose is unclear even to some people tied to the family’s businesses.
Herrera had pleaded guilty in 2025 to a misdemeanor campaign-finance violation after initially facing felony bribery charges. Trump later granted him a complete, unconditional pardon. Habba has denied involvement in securing it.
Trump told an ally that Herrera’s relatives should cease covering the balance of Habba’s contract, and that message reached the family. He called Habba about the deal, though it is unclear whether he directly asked her to donate. The reported pressure raises a basic public-interest question: why should a president’s associates be asked to channel private earnings to an entity tied to him, particularly in a situation involving a pardon?
Habba, Herrera’s relatives and White House officials offered no response to requests for comment. Nothing indicates that Habba agreed to make a donation.
Trump Challenges Habba’s Huge Contract as Critics Push Pardon Claims
Trump’s response to Alina Habba’s contract was direct: he wanted some of the money directed to a library he intends to establish or another Trump-affiliated entity. The four-year deal, which guarantees Habba more than $50 million, has drawn scrutiny because it is with a company launched by the daughter of Venezuelan businessman Julio Herrera Velutini, whom Trump pardoned.
Habba agreed last year to serve as Concord Partners’ general counsel and began the position on January 1. She had previously represented Trump personally and served in the Justice Department. The company has little public profile, and its business is unclear to some people connected to the Herrera family’s enterprises.
Herrera had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign-finance violation in 2025 after initially facing felony bribery charges. Trump later granted him a pardon without conditions. Habba has denied any role in obtaining it, and nothing establishes that her contract was payment for pardon work.
Trump told one or more allies that Herrera’s family ought to stop covering the balance of Habba’s contract. He also called Habba, though it remains unclear whether he directly asked her to donate. His demand for a share of her earnings underscores that the deal’s financial terms—not merely the pardon—were central to his anger.
Habba, Herrera’s relatives and White House officials offered no response to requests for comment. It is not known whether Habba agreed to give any money to a Trump-linked organization.
Reported by Raw Story, The Daily Beast, The New Republic.
