Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, President Donald Trump expressed sharp frustration regarding the compensation package secured by his former adviser. The president stated that he had informed her directly that he did not want her to receive any funds from the arrangement.
I think it was totally provocative, infuriating, and unacceptable.. completely unacceptable.
President Donald Trump, via Elmaser
The agreement involves the family of Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who arranged a multi-year contract for the attorney.
The firm was registered in late October 2025, shortly before the contract was finalized.
During the period when the agreement was signed, Habba served as the acting U.S. Attorney for the state of New Jersey. Court action subsequently excluded her from holding the U.S. Attorney post.
She resigned from that position on December 8, 2025, and was appointed as a senior counselor to the U.S. Attorney General on the same day. She maintained that advisory role when her work with Concord Partners officially commenced on January 1, 2026.
Julio Herrera Velutini Entered Guilty Plea Agreement
Before the financial agreement and subsequent executive action, Julio Herrera Velutini faced federal criminal bribery charges inside the United States. The legal proceedings shifted in August 2025 when the banker entered a guilty plea agreement.
Response From the Former Legal Adviser Regarding the Pardon
Amid public scrutiny over the timing of her private sector contract and the subsequent executive pardon, Habba Mieldon issued denials regarding any connection between her compensation and the clemency granted to the banker.
Shift From Prior Praise to Public Rebuke
The recent criticism marks a stark reversal from the president’s earlier public statements regarding his former defender. During previous legal battles and complex courtroom challenges, Trump repeatedly lauded her steadfast dedication, describing her as an unyielding and fierce advocate who aggressively challenged critics in media appearances.
That previous praise also defended her appointment as a counselor, with the president asserting that few individuals understood how the justice system could be manipulated or utilized as a weapon quite as effectively. The unfolding situation leaves open questions regarding the intersection of her government consultancy and her private financial agreements.