Trump Demands Cut from Former Attorney's Lucrative Contract Linked to Clemency Recipient

Trump Demands Cut from Former Attorney's Lucrative Contract Linked to Clemency Recipient

2026-10-31 politics

Washington, Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Donald Trump erupted over Alina Habba’s massive fifty-million-dollar legal contract with a pardoned billionaire’s family, privately insisting she donate a portion of the funds to his future presidential library.

Trump’s Reaction to the Controversial Contract

Former President Donald Trump expressed intense anger upon learning about a reported $50 million legal contract signed by his former attorney, Alina Habba, with the family of Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini. According to multiple reports, Trump privately directed allies to demand that Habba donate a portion of the funds to his future presidential library, describing the contract as ‘outrageous’ and questioning why such a large sum was involved in a pardon-related case [1][2][4]. The controversy centers on allegations that Habba’s employment with Concord Partners, a firm managed by Herrera Velutini’s daughter, may have been tied to the presidential pardon granted to the billionaire in January 2026 [1][2][4].

The Pardon-for-Pay Allegations and Timeline

Julio Herrera Velutini, who was pardoned by Trump in January 2026 after pleading guilty to a campaign finance misdemeanor in 2025, saw his daughter, Isabela Herrera Velutini, launch Concord Partners in October 2025. Habba, who had been serving as a special government employee and adviser to the Justice Department, signed a $50 million contract with the firm in late October 2025, just days after its establishment. She began her role as general counsel on January 1, 2026, while still employed by the Justice Department, before resigning in December 2025 due to legal challenges to her appointment [2][4]. The pardon was granted on January 15, 2026, just two weeks after Habba’s contract took effect [2][4].

The allegations have sparked significant ethical and legal scrutiny, with critics including Democratic lawmakers alleging a potential ‘pardon-for-pay’ scheme. Senators Adam Schiff and Jon Ossoff have characterized Trump’s demands for a share of the funds as a ‘racket,’ while Habba has vehemently denied any connection between her employment and the pardon. In a statement, Habba asserted that her work was fully vetted and disclosed to the Department of Justice, and that she never met with White House or DOJ officials regarding a pardon for any client [2][4][8]. The controversy has prompted Trump to direct White House Counsel Will Scharf to investigate Habba’s involvement, further escalating the political and legal fallout [2].

Habba’s Response and Personal Life

Alina Habba, who married Turkish billionaire Turhan Mildon in September 2026, has framed the controversy as an attack by the media and political opponents. In a statement, she emphasized that her post-government career as a lawyer has no ties to pardon-related activities, stating, ‘Big Scoop: After leaving public service, I’ve gone back to doing what I have done for my entire career: being a lawyer’ [4]. The timing of her resignation from the Justice Department, her subsequent high-profile marriage, and the lucrative contract have all come under intense scrutiny, with critics questioning the optics and potential conflicts of interest [4].

Sources


Legal Ethics Executive Pardons