Report Links Alina Habba To Pardon

President Trump granted Venezuelan-Italian banker Julio Herrera VelutiniJulio Herrera Velutinibanker a full pardon weeks after the Herrera family hired Justice Department adviser Alina HabbaAlina HabbaAmerican attorney (born 1984). Habba became general counsel of Concord Partners, a Florida company founded by Herrera’s daughter Isabela, before later overseeing U.S. attorneys. Herrera had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign-finance violation after prosecutors accused him of joining a scheme to bribe Puerto Rico’s governor. After a deal reduced more serious charges, lawyer Christopher KiseCKChris KiseAmerican lawyer kept seeking clemency, and Isabela donated more than $3.5 million. People familiar with Habba’s contract believed she was brought in to help, but Habba, DOJ and the White House denied any pardon role. The contract guaranteed more than $50 million; her work and the pardon’s path remain unclear.