President Trump Reportedly Sought Contract Cut

What happened

Updated Oct 30, 8:54pm ET

President Trump reportedly sought some of Alina Habba’s contract proceeds for his future library or another Trump-related entity. Trump also reportedly urged the Herrera family to stop remaining contract payments, and that message reached the family. Habba signed a four-year contract worth more than $50 million to serve as general counsel for Concord Partners, founded by Julio Herrera Velutini’s daughter. She signed while advising the Justice Department, as Herrera sought a pardon that Trump granted weeks later. The contract called for $10 million a year, plus bonuses. Habba said any link to the pardon was false, vetted and disclosed. Trump called Habba, but it is unknown whether he directly asked her to donate.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed the story as insider access turning into profit, with Trump’s anger aimed at capturing value for his projects. Mediaite cast Habba’s payday as a case study in allies cashing in near presidential power. New Republic emphasized Trump’s demand for a cut rather than any move to curb influence-peddling. The New York Times lingered on how Habba’s clash with another insider exposed inconsistencies in her husband’s story.