Alina Habba Fired From $50 Million Role After Donald Trump Criticized Deal
Alina Habba, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, has been fired from a lucrative job with a company tied to a Venezuelan billionaire whom Trump pardoned. The contract, reportedly worth more than $50 million, had drawn public criticism from Trump himself.
Habba, who now goes by Alina Habba Mildon, plans to take legal action, according to a person close to her.
Fired for 'Failure to Perform Duties'
Concord Partners, a Florida company founded by Isabela Herrera, terminated Habba Mildon in a Nov. 4 letter that cited a "failure to perform duties," according to documents obtained by The New York Times, Law Commentary reported.
A person close to the Herrera family told the Times that Habba Mildon seemed less focused on the company after she began a relationship with Turkish investor Turhan Mildon. The two married in September.
Habba Mildon declined to comment to the Times about her firing.
The Contract and the Pardon
Habba Mildon started as Concord's general counsel on Jan. 1. Her four-year contract paid $10 million a year plus bonuses, bringing its total value to more than $50 million.
About two weeks after she started, on Jan. 15, Trump granted a full pardon to Isabela Herrera's father, Julio Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan billionaire. He had faced federal bribery charges involving former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced. In August 2025, he reached a plea agreement that reduced his case to a misdemeanor campaign finance offense.
Isabela Herrera had also contributed $3.5 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump political group.
Habba Mildon has denied that her job had anything to do with the pardon. "I was never paid to secure a pardon," she wrote on X last month, according to Yahoo News. She has also said the Justice Department reviewed and approved her outside employment.
Trump's Reaction
Trump made clear he did not approve of the arrangement, criticizing it both publicly and privately. On Oct. 31 at Mar-a-Lago, he reportedly called the deal "totally obnoxious and outrageous."
He later told reporters, "I thought it was terrible," adding, "I don't want her paid." Trump also reportedly told aides the Herrera family should stop the payments and suggested some of the money go to his presidential library.
Under the terms of her departure, Habba Mildon will reportedly keep the $14.5 million she has already received. That includes an $8 million signing bonus and $6.5 million in payments since she started.
Questions From Congress
Habba Mildon signed the contract in late 2025 while serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, an appointment a federal judge had ruled unlawful. She resigned Dec. 8 and became a senior adviser to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom Trump later fired from the role.
Democrats in Congress are now seeking answers. Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Dave Min have asked Habba Mildon and Herrera Velutini for information about the contract, political donations and any administration involvement in the pardon. They requested written responses by Nov. 13.
Separate Ethics Complaint
Habba Mildon is also facing a separate legal challenge. On Nov. 10, New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics filed a 23-page disciplinary complaint against her, Forbes reported.
The complaint stems from a 2021 sexual harassment dispute involving a former waitress at Trump's Bedminster golf club. It accuses her of conflicts of interest, failing to clarify her role in settlement negotiations and improperly maintaining financial records. It also alleges she had "divided loyalties" because she was a paying member of the club.
Habba Mildon's response to the ethics complaint was not reported. Trump said on Truth Social that he was not involved in the underlying harassment case.
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