WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, and U.S. Representative Dave Min (D-CA-47), Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ Anti-Corruption Task Force, are demanding answers from former Senior Adviser to the Attorney General Alina Mildon on her reported role in President Trump’s decision to grant Julio Herrera Velutini—who pleaded guilty to violating U.S. campaign finance laws—a full presidential pardon. The letters come as President Trump criticized his former attorney’s $50 million agreement with Mr. Herrera as “totally obnoxious and outrageous,” and “not acceptable.”  

In their letters, the lawmakers express concern that the timing of Ms. Habba-Mildon’s hiring and Mr. Herrera’s daughter’s contribution to MAGA Inc. raise questions about whether improper considerations, including quid pro quo or “pay-to-play” dynamics, may have affected President Trump’s decision to pardon him. These letters are part of a broader bicameral investigation led by Senator Welch and Representative Min into potential corruption surrounding President Trump’s decisions to grant presidential pardons. 

The lawmakers write: “Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the President to ‘grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.’ The U.S. Supreme Court has characterized executive clemency as ‘an act of grace’ exercised for the ‘public welfare.’ President Trump’s use of this authority appears to deviate from this traditional purpose. Congress has a compelling interest in ensuring that the constitutional pardon power is exercised with fairness and transparency. Given these circumstances, we are seeking additional information to better understand the extent to which influence and access may have overridden the standard pardon review process.” 

In August 2022, Mr. Herrera was criminally charged with providing $300,000 to a super political action committee (PAC) in violation of a campaign finance law barring contributions or donations by foreign nationals to U.S. federal, state, or local elections. Mr. Herrera financially supported the reelection campaign of Puerto Rico’s governor in exchange for her pledge to remove a top banking regulator who had scrutinized one of Mr. Herrera’s banks.  

According to public reporting, Ms. Mildon entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Herrera’s family in late 2025, while she was serving as an adviser at the Justice Department. She also previously served as President Trump’s personal lawyer and as the Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. In the hiring contract, Mr. Velutini’s family agreed to pay her $50 million over four years to be general counsel at Concord Partners, a company set up by Mr. Velutini’s daughter days before she signed the contract. Ms. Mildon finalized the deal with Concord Partners while she was still serving at the Justice Department. 

Ms. Mildon then began working for Concord Partners on January 1, 2026, while serving as a senior adviser to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, overseeing U.S. attorneys. Two weeks later, Mr. Herrera received a pardon on January 15, 2026. Since President Trump’s election in November 2024, his 27-year-old daughter, a self-employed financial consultant, also donated $3.5 million to MAGA Inc., a Trump-supporting super PAC.  

Read and download the lawmakers’ full letters to Alina Habba-Mildon and Julio Herrera Velutini. 

In May, Senator Welch and Rep. Min sent letters to 17 individuals who received pardons or commutations under circumstances that warrant further congressional scrutiny, including several individuals connected to major fraud schemes, financial crimes, and high-profile political or financial relationships tied to President Trump and his associates. The earlier letters sought information regarding the clemency process, including whether financial contributions, lobbyists, intermediaries, or personal connections played a role in securing presidential clemency.  

Among the individuals who received letters are convicted fraudsters, political fundraisers, corporate executives, and wealthy donors, such as Changpeng Zhao, whose cases have generated public reporting suggesting unusual access to Trump’s network of political allies and associates, direct lobbying efforts, large political donations, or other concerning connections surrounding their clemency requests. 

The lawmakers continued their investigation in June, sending four additional letters to the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, the White House Office of Records Management, the White House Pardon Czar, and the United States Secret Service. In October, the lawmakers initiated a probe into the influence of cabinet members, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, in Trump’s decision to pardon convicted felons.  

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