Trump Pardon Controversy: Alina Habba's $50 Million Contract From Venezuelan Brillionaire Under Scrutiny
\n\nFormer Donald Trump lawyer Alina Habba reportedly landed a lucrative job worth more than $50 million over four years from the family of Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini just weeks before Trump granted him a presidential pardon. According to The New York Times, people familiar with Habba's contract believed she was hired to help the billionaire secure clemency, raising questions about the timing of the deal.
\n\nHerrera, a prominent Venezuelan banker, was facing felony bribery charges in the US before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation in August 2025. Although the plea deal reduced the charges against him, he reportedly remained concerned about the conviction's impact on his record and continued seeking a pardon from Trump.
\n\nHis lawyer, Christopher M. Kise, a former Florida solicitor general who had served on Trump's personal legal team, helped pursue clemency. Herrera's 27-year-old daughter, Isabela Herrera, also donated $3.5 million to a super PAC linked to Trump. However, the pardon had not materialised by last fall.
\n\nThe New York Times reported that the Herrera family later hired Habba, who was serving as an adviser at the Justice Department at…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
