Trump slams former Iraqi lawyer Alina Habba over controversial $50M deal

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a sharp public attack against his former personal attorney of Iraqi descent, Alina Habba Meldon, describing her acquisition of a financial contract exceeding $50 million as “provocative and completely unacceptable,” following an investigative report by The New York Times exposing her agreement with a firm tied to the family of a pardoned Venezuelan banker while holding senior positions inside the U.S. Department of Justice. Speaking to reporters on Saturday evening from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he directly informed Habba that he did not want her taking any compensation, calling the episode “horrible, totally outrageous, and completely unacceptable.” The remarks mark a stark reversal after years of public praise in which Trump regularly lauded her courage and fierce loyalty across high-profile legal battles and media appearances. According to details reported by The New York Times, the agreement was executed with Concord Partners, an entity affiliated with the family of Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who previously faced federal bribery charges in the United States before finalizing a misdemeanor plea deal in August 2025. The multi-year retainer granted Habba a compensation package exceeding $50 million over four years, structured as $10 million annually alongside performance bonuses. The report traced the timeline of Habba’s government tenure and concurrent corporate engagements: Late October 2025: Habba signed the lucrative contract while serving as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, days after the corporate entity was registered. December 8, 2025: Following a judicial ruling challenging her acting tenure, Habba resigned from the post and was appointed on the same day as a senior counselor to the U.S. Attorney General. January 1, 2026: Habba officially commenced her compensated work for the corporate vehicle while remaining in her executive Department of Justice advisory role. January 15, 2026: Trump issued a full presidential pardon to banker Julio Herrera Velutini. Habba firmly rejected the allegations last week, stating that she never solicited or received funds to lobby for a presidential pardon, never met with White House or Justice Department officials regarding the matter, and took no official actions associated with any pardon petition. The public fallout marks a contentious rupture between Trump and his former attorney, whose Iraqi heritage and prominent courtroom profile had made her one of the most visible figures in his close legal and political circle.