President Donald Trump called it unacceptable for his former lawyer, Alina Habba Mildon, to secure a contract worth more than $50 million while working at the U.S. Department of Justice. The New York Times reported that the family of Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini guaranteed Habba Mildon more than $50 million over four years through Concord Partners, including $10 million annually plus bonuses. Herrera faced U.S. felony bribery charges before reaching a plea deal in August 2025. Habba Mildon signed the agreement while serving as acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey, days after Concord Partners was registered in late October 2025. A court had disqualified her from serving as U.S. attorney by the time she began working for the Herrera family. She resigned on December 8 and became a senior adviser to the attorney general the same day, but remained in that role when she started at Concord on January 1. The Justice Department’s website says Trump pardoned Herrera on January 15, 2026. Trump said he had told Habba Mildon he did not want her to be paid and described the episode as terrible. Habba Mildon said she was never paid for a pardon, did not discuss a pardon with anyone at the White House or Justice Department, and did no pardon-related work. The Justice Department did not immediately comment.