Trump Pardons Herrera After Family Hires Habba for $50M

President Donald Trump granted Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini a full pardon in January 2026, weeks after Herrera’s family hired former Trump lawyer Alina Habba under a four-year contract guaranteeing her more than $50 million, according to reporting based on interviews and documents. Herrera had pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a misdemeanor campaign-finance violation after facing felony charges in a case involving an alleged scheme to bribe former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez. He continued seeking a pardon after the plea, with his lawyer, Christopher Kise, assisting in the clemency effort, the reports said. Trump pardoned Herrera, Vázquez and former FBI agent Mark Rossini shortly before they were scheduled to be sentenced on misdemeanor charges. The Herrera family’s agreement made Habba general counsel at Concord Partners, a Florida company established by Herrera’s daughter, Isabela Herrera, in late 2025. It offered Habba $10 million annually for four years, with bonuses bringing her guaranteed compensation to more than $50 million over the contract period. Habba finalized the deal days after the company was registered and formally began work on January 1, 2026....