Alina Habba Mildon signed the lucrative contract while working at the Justice Department, before Trump pardoned the bank US President Donald Trump has criticised one of his former lawyers for signing a contract worth more than $ 50 million with the family of a Venezuelan banker whom Trump later pardoned. Alina Habba Mildon reportedly signed the lucrative deal while working as a federal prosecutor and later began working for the banker ’ s family while still being employed as an adviser to the US Department of Justice. The matter has quickly moved to the forefront of national discussion.

Background

To understand the full scope of this development, it is important to consider the broader context.

Based on to The New York Times, Habba Mildon signed a four-year contract in October 2025 with a company owned by the family of Julio Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan banker who was seeking a presidential pardon.

Habba Mildon ’ s contract with his family ’ s company guaranteed her more than $ 50 million over four years, including an annual salary of $ 10 million and bonuses.

It has also emerged that when she signed the agreement, Habba Mildon was the acting US attorney for New Jersey, a view Trump had appointed her to after working as his personal lawyer.

International Reaction

With opinions divided in some quarters, the overall assessment remains significant.

She then immediately took another job at the Justice Department as a senior adviser to the attorney general.

In a detail that has not gone unnoticed, on January 1, Habba Mildon officially began working for the banker ’ s family while still employed by the Justice Department.

Adding further dimension to the story, the arrangement has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given Habba Mildon ’ s government approach and her ties to Trump.

What It Means

As the dust begins to settle, the real-world consequences are starting to emerge.

Last week, she declared she had never been paid to obtain a pardon, had never discussed one with anyone at the White House or the Justice Department and had never worked to secure a pardon for anyone.

Notably, the New York Times reported that he told aides and allies that Habba Mildon should donate some of the money to his future presidential library or another Trump-related organisation.

As the story continues to develop, he also reportedly told at least one ally that Herrera ’ s family should stop paying her the remainder of the contract.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, speaking on Saturday, Trump stated he told Habba Mildon he did not want her to be paid, describing the situation as “ terrible ”.

Of particular significance is the fact that the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Next Steps

Key actors in this story have not yet issued final statements, and the situation remains fluid. Updates will be reported as they become available, with the expectation that more information will emerge soon.