13.11.2026 20:11
The agreement worth more than $50 million with the family of Venezuelan billionaire banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who is facing legal proceedings in the U.S. over bribery allegations, has caused trouble for Alina Habba Mildon, the wife of Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon. The million-dollar contract that Habba, Trump's former lawyer, signed with a company belonging to Velutini's family was terminated after the U.S. President's harsh reaction.
Alina Habba Mildon, wife of Turkish businessperson Turhan Mildon and former lawyer to US President Donald Trump, had her contract worth more than $50 million with a company owned by the family of Venezuelan billionaire banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who is facing bribery charges, terminated. Velutini, accused of bribing former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, pleaded guilty in 2025 to a lesser campaign finance offense and was pardoned by US President Donald Trump in January 2026. The fact that Habba's contract was signed shortly after she began working at Velutini's daughter's company, along with the developments that followed the pardon, sparked debate in the US.
HAD MADE HEADLINES WITH A BRIBERY ACCUSATION AGAINST THE GOVERNOR
Venezuelan billionaire banker Julio Herrera Velutini had been accused of bribing former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez. US prosecutors alleged that he provided improper financing to the former governor's election campaign in order to secure the removal of a senior regulatory official overseeing his bank.
As part of the investigation that began in 2022, Velutini pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a lesser misdemeanor of violating campaign finance law instead of more serious charges. Donald Trump granted Velutini a full presidential pardon on January 15, 2026.
$50 MILLION CONTRACT CAME ONTO THE AGENDA AFTER THE PARDON
Florida-based Concord Partners, the company founded by Velutini's daughter, signed a four-year agreement with Alina Habba Mildon. Under the contract, Habba was to be paid $10 million annually plus various bonuses, with the total amount projected to exceed $50 million.
Habba began working as legal counsel for the company on January 1, 2026. Velutini's pardon by Trump came only two weeks after that date.
The timing of the contract and the pardon also raised questions in the US Congress. Democratic Senator Peter Welch and US Representative Dave Min launched an effort to obtain information from Habba and Velutini about the pardon and the terms of the contract.
The fact that Velutini's daughter donated $3.5 million to the pro-Trump political committee MAGA Inc. was also subject to scrutiny. However, there is no conclusive finding that the contract was made in exchange for the pardon.
Habba rejected allegations that she carried out any work to secure the pardon and argued that claims her employment was linked to the pardon process did not reflect the truth.
TRUMP ALSO REACTED TO THE $50 MILLION AGREEMENT
After the contract became public, Donald Trump also reacted to the agreement. Trump said he did not want Habba to receive this payment, describing the agreement as 'unacceptable', 'a scandal' and 'completely excessive'.
Trump also said he conveyed a message to the Velutini family not to pay Habba.
CONTRACT TERMINATED ON NOVEMBER 4
According to reports in the US press, Concord Partners terminated Habba's contract with a letter dated November 4, 2026. 'Failure to perform her duties' was cited as the reason for termination.
It was stated that Habba had received a total of $14.5 million to date under the contract, including an $8 million signing bonus and $6.5 million in additional payments. It was reported that she would keep this money despite the termination of the contract.
It was also reported in the US press that Habba was considering legal action against the termination decision.
TURHAN MILDON'S NAME HAD PREVIOUSLY COME TO THE AGENDA WITH A $17.6 MILLION TRANSFER
The name of Turkish businessperson Turhan Mildon had also been mentioned in the debate over a $17.6 million money transfer that previously came to the agenda in the US.
Alina Habba had claimed that her husband Mildon transferred $17.6 million to a Texas-based defense company at the direction of former US Special Representative for Venezuela Richard Grenell. It had been alleged that part of the money was planned to be sent as a donation to the Kennedy Center.
However, in the review reported by The New York Times, it was stated that the money in question was sent not from Mildon's personal account but from an account linked to the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Grenell, meanwhile, maintained that he did not receive any money from Mildon.
THEY HAD MARRIED WITH A $10 MILLION WEDDING
Turhan Mildon and Alina Habba were married on September 26, 2026, in a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. The US press had claimed that the wedding cost approximately $10 million.
Names from the Trump administration, such as US Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Counsel Will Scharf, also attended the ceremony.
Turhan Mildon, a manager of Miller Holding, is known for his international investments and especially his commercial activities in Africa. His wife Alina Habba had previously served as Donald Trump's personal lawyer and had worked within the US Department of Justice.