President Donald Trump has publicly criticized his former personal attorney Alina Habba, describing her reported $50 million contract with the family of a Venezuelan banker, whom Trump later pardoned, as "totally obnoxious and outrageous."
"I thought it was terrible," Trump told reporters on Saturday evening. He added that he had informed Habba that he did not want her to be paid for the arrangement. "It's one thing for a person to get paid legal fees or whatever. She's a lawyer. I thought it was totally obnoxious and outrageous, and it's not acceptable. Not acceptable at all."
The New York Times reported that the family of banker Julio Herrera Velutini guaranteed Habba more than $50 million over four years in exchange for her role as general counsel of Concord Partners, a family company established just days before she took the position. Velutini, who had faced federal bribery charges, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation in August 2025.
According to the Times, Habba, 42, was placed on an annual retainer of $10 million, plus bonuses, by the family. She reportedly secured this role while still on the Justice Department's payroll. Habba was two weeks into her new position at Concord Partners when Trump issued a pardon for her boss's father.
Habba has maintained that the timing of her employment was coincidental. "Any insinuation that my employment — all of which has been vetted and disclosed to the DOJ — had anything to do with securing a pardon is false," she told the Times. The White House has also denied any connection, according to the outlet.
The Times reported that Trump "erupted" upon learning of the contract and subsequently suggested to associates that some of the funds should be directed to his future presidential library or another Trump-affiliated entity. On Saturday, Trump indicated he did not necessarily expect Habba to repay any money but reiterated his disapproval, stating, "it's unacceptable what she did."
Habba rose to prominence as Trump's personal attorney in 2021 and later served briefly as counselor to the president. She subsequently held the top position at the New Jersey US Attorney’s Office before departing in December.
This situation follows a series of recent events for Habba, including her marriage to Turkish billionaire Turhan Mildon on September 26. Less than two weeks later, at an October 9 meeting, Habba reportedly accused Ric Grenell, former executive director of the Kennedy Center, of failing to deposit $5.6 million her husband had intended for the center. The funds were allegedly part of a larger wire transfer to a defense software company. Trump reportedly tasked White House Counsel Will Scharf with addressing the matter.