Trump calls Habba Mildon's reported $50m contract 'not acceptable'
Where it stands
Trump condemns reported agreement; Habba Mildon, DOJ and White House deny pardon involvement; reviewed records establish company formation and pardon but no causal link or finding of wrongdoing.
Sources reviewed: Nov 1, 2026 · 3:05 PM EST
President Donald Trump said October 31 that it was unacceptable for his former lawyer and Justice Department adviser Alina Habba Mildon to secure a reported contract worth more than $50 million. Reuters reported that The New York Times obtained documents and interviews showing that Julio Herrera Velutini's family guaranteed Habba Mildon more than $50 million over four years through Concord Partners, including $10 million annually plus bonuses.
Trump called the arrangement obnoxious and outrageous and said he had told Habba Mildon he did not want her paid. Florida's corporate index confirms that Concord Partners LLC was filed October 22, 2025, with Isabela Herrera listed as manager.
A Justice Department warrant confirms that Trump granted Julio Herrera Velutini a full and unconditional pardon January 15, 2026. Those public records do not disclose the reported employment agreement, the services performed or the pardon process.
The response.
Habba Mildon said she was never paid for a pardon, never met with White House or Justice Department personnel about one and did no pardon work. She separately told The New York Times that her employment was vetted and disclosed to DOJ and that suggesting it was connected to a pardon was false. DOJ told the Times she did not speak to anyone about a pardon; a White House official said she had no role and cited the administration's review process. The Herrera family did not respond to the Times, and DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters's request for comment after Trump's remarks. Reporting says Habba Mildon was a special government employee, a status that can permit outside work subject to conflict restrictions. The reviewed sources identify no court or agency finding that the contract violated law or that it caused the pardon. The contract itself was not publicly accessible to the Ledger, so its value and terms remain attributed to The New York Times and Reuters.
Dates & scope
Source publication: Oct 31, 2026 · 10:22 PM EDT · Source update: 2026-11-01
Event or conduct: 2026-10-31.
Full chronology and review notes
Trump spoke to reporters at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on October 31. Reuters published its report at 2:22 a.m. UTC November 1, or 10:22 p.m. EDT October 31. The New York Times published its underlying contract report October 20; GV Wire republished it October 21. The Ledger reviewed that reporting, Florida corporate records and Justice Department pardon records November 1 at 3:05 p.m. EST. The contract, pardon, public remarks, publication dates and source-review time are distinct.
This is a dated report. The source-review time records when the linked sources were checked; it is not a live update.
Coverage is non-exhaustive. Our source-review standards →
Open the original record.
- Reuters: Trump calls $50 million contract for ex-lawyer Habba Mildon 'not acceptable' ↗
November 1 report on Trump's October 31 remarks, the Times-reported contract terms, the sequence of Habba Mildon's roles and pardon, her response and DOJ's lack of an immediate post-remarks comment
- The New York Times, republished by GV Wire: A Billionaire Wanted a Trump Pardon. His Family Gave Alina Habba a $50 Million Deal. ↗
October 21 authorized republication of the October 20 Times investigation describing documents and interviews about the reported agreement and carrying the responses from Habba Mildon, DOJ and the White House; the contract itself was not publicly available to the Ledger
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: Concord Partners LLC, document L25000485197 ↗
Primary corporate index confirming the entity name, October 22, 2025 filing date, active status and Isabela Herrera as manager; it does not disclose the reported employment contract
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney: January 15 pardon warrant for Julio M. Herrera Velutini ↗
Primary clemency warrant confirming the full and unconditional pardon in United States v. Vazquez-Garced, No. 3:22-cr-342; it does not identify advocates, communications or reasons for the grant
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney: Clemency grants by President Donald J. Trump, 2025-present ↗
Official pardon list confirming the January 15 grant and January 20 amended warrant; the list does not establish any connection to the reported contract
Keep following this record
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Read a sample: Whose names are on the filings ↗