Alina Habba's $50 million deal
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The New York Times reported a Venezuelan billionaire's family company gave Alina Habba a $50 million deal before Trump pardoned him.
The timing of the pardon and the money is now under scrutiny.
Background
Alina Habba is Trump's former personal attorney and a former Justice Department adviser who briefly headed the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey. Julio Herrera Velutini is a prominent Venezuelan billionaire and banking tycoon who faced bribery charges and received a pardon. The New York Times reported that his 27-year-old daughter, Isabela Herrera, an American citizen, set up Concord Partners in Florida in late October 2025, and Habba finalized her deal to serve as its general counsel days later. The family had already donated millions to Trump's political operation and hired a lawyer and lobbying firm, and the pardon followed in January 2026.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2022Julio Herrera Velutini was indicted in a federal corruption case involving former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced, accused of a scheme to fund her 2020 reelection campaign in exchange for replacing a banking regulator investigating one of his institutions.
- Dec 2024Isabela Herrera donated $2.5 million to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump.
- Jul 2025Isabela Herrera donated another $1 million to MAGA Inc.
- Aug 2025Herrera Velutini pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance offense under a plea agreement that resolved the case.
- Sep 23, 2025Isabela Herrera pledged $2.5 million toward Trump's White House ballroom.
- Oct 14, 2025Isabela Herrera paid an initial $835,000 installment on the ballroom pledge.
- Late Oct 2025Isabela Herrera set up Concord Partners in Florida; Habba finalized her deal days after the company was registered.
- Jan 1, 2026Habba officially joined Concord Partners, by which point she had left her New Jersey post after a court ruled her appointment unlawful.
- Jan 15, 2026Trump granted Herrera Velutini an initial pardon.
- Jan 20, 2026Trump issued an amended clemency order five days later, specifically covering the banker's misdemeanor offense.
- Feb 17, 2026Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission asking regulators to investigate whether Isabela Herrera acted as a donor on her father's behalf.
- Oct 20, 2026The New York Times published its investigation.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House officials said the family's political contributions had no bearing on the president's decision.
- Denial
- Alina Habba adamantly denies she played any role in Velutini's pardon.
- Caution
- Campaign Legal Center alleges Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan national, may have secretly financed the contributions through his daughter.
Still unverified
Concord Partners' business remains unclear even to some people associated with the Herrera business empire, and the company has no public profile. Campaign Legal Center's allegation that Herrera Velutini may have secretly financed his daughter's contributions is an allegation; regulators would need evidence establishing the actual source of the funds before determining whether violations occurred.