- Alina Habba, Donald Trump’s personal attorney, has publicly denied reports linking her to a pardon secured for Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini.
- Habba responded directly on X, accusing the New York Times of failing to review its own prior reporting before publishing the story.
- The denial escalates scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding Herrera Velutini’s pardon and who may have facilitated it.
Alina Habba Pushes Back Against Report Tying Her to Julio Herrera Velutini Pardon
Alina Habba, who serves as a personal attorney to former and current President Donald Trump, is forcefully denying allegations that she played a role in helping Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini obtain a presidential pardon. The denial came swiftly and publicly, with Habba taking to X to challenge the reporting head-on and accuse the outlet behind the story of journalistic negligence.
Habba Calls Out the New York Times Directly on X
In her response posted to X, Habba did not hold back in targeting the New York Times specifically, suggesting the publication failed to conduct even basic due diligence before running the story. Habba wrote: “If the New York Times simply went back and looked at their…” — indicating she believes the newspaper’s own archive would contradict the claims being made against her. The post signals that Habba views the report not only as inaccurate but as one that could have been fact-checked using the Times’ own prior coverage.
Who Is Julio Herrera Velutini?
Julio Herrera Velutini is a Venezuelan-born billionaire with extensive international banking interests. His name surfacing in connection with a presidential pardon has drawn significant attention, raising questions about the process by which the pardon was obtained and who may have been involved in advocating for it at the highest levels of the Trump orbit. Habba’s proximity to Trump as his personal legal counsel makes any alleged involvement on her part a matter of considerable political and legal significance.
Why This Matters
The controversy touches on broader concerns about transparency and access within presidential pardon processes. When high-profile attorneys with direct ties to a sitting president are alleged to have facilitated pardons for wealthy foreign nationals, it invites intense public and congressional scrutiny. Habba’s swift and direct denial suggests the allegations carry enough political weight that allowing them to go unanswered was not a viable option. The back-and-forth between Habba and the New York Times is likely to intensify as more details emerge about Herrera Velutini’s pardon and the individuals connected to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly did Alina Habba deny?
Habba denied having any role in securing a pardon for Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini, calling out the New York Times on X and suggesting their own reporting history would refute the claims.
Q: Who is Julio Herrera Velutini and why is his pardon significant?
Julio Herrera Velutini is a Venezuelan billionaire with international banking connections. His receipt of a presidential pardon has raised questions about the process and whether well-connected Trump associates helped facilitate it.
Q: What is Alina Habba’s relationship to Donald Trump?
Alina Habba serves as Donald Trump’s personal attorney, a role that places her in close proximity to Trump’s legal and political decisions, making any alleged involvement in pardon proceedings particularly scrutinized.
