Alina Habba Mildon, a prominent attorney who previously served as President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, had her lucrative $50 million contract with Concord Partners terminated on November 4. The Florida-based company, founded by the daughter of a Venezuelan banker whom President Trump pardoned earlier this year, cited "failure to perform duties" as the reason for the abrupt termination. The decision followed public remarks made by President Trump just four days prior, on Halloween afternoon at Mar-a-Lago, where he expressed strong opposition to the financial arrangement.
"I thought it was totally obnoxious and outrageous, and it’s not acceptable." President Donald Trump
President Trump told reporters that he found the deal "totally obnoxious and outrageous" and "not acceptable." He stated he had directly communicated his disapproval to Habba Mildon, recounting his message: "I told her, and I said, 'I don’t want her paid.'" The President also reportedly pressed aides and allies to convey his message to the Herrera family, who are behind Concord Partners, urging them to stop the payments. Furthermore, President Trump reportedly suggested that Habba Mildon consider allocating a portion of the funds to his future presidential library or another Trump-linked entity.
The contract guaranteed Habba Mildon more than $50 million over four years, including an annual payment of $10 million with additional bonuses. She had already received an $8 million signing bonus and $6.5 million in other payments, sums that are reportedly not expected to be returned. A person close to the Herrera family, speaking to the New York Times, suggested that Habba Mildon's priorities had shifted after her marriage to Turkish investor Turhan Mildon in September. Habba Mildon has declined to comment on the termination but a person close to her indicated she intends to pursue legal action.
The arrangement between Habba Mildon and Concord Partners has drawn scrutiny due to its timeline, which overlapped with her government career and the legal proceedings of Julio Herrera Velutini, the Venezuelan banker whose daughter founded Concord Partners. Habba Mildon signed the contract in late October 2025, while she was serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Her first day as general counsel for Concord Partners was January 1, 2026, when she also held the title of senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Julio Herrera Velutini, the banker connected to Concord Partners, had faced federal bribery charges related to an alleged scheme involving Puerto Rico’s governor. In August 2025, he entered a plea deal, admitting to a misdemeanor campaign finance violation. President Trump granted Velutini a full and unconditional pardon on January 15, 2026. This date occurred just two weeks after Habba Mildon began her employment with the company associated with Velutini's family.
This chronological overlap between Habba Mildon's contract, her roles within the Justice Department, and the presidential pardon of Velutini has prompted questions regarding the nature of the deal. Habba Mildon has consistently denied any impropriety, stating previously, "Any insinuation that my employment — all of which has been vetted and disclosed to the DOJ — had anything to do with securing a pardon is false."
Prior to her service at the Justice Department, Habba Mildon was notably President Trump's personal attorney. Her tenure as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor concluded controversially when a federal appeals court ruled that she had held the position unlawfully, leading to her resignation in December 2025. The termination of her contract with Concord Partners adds another layer to her high-profile professional trajectory, bringing to light the complexities of private sector engagements for individuals closely linked to the highest levels of government.
