Trump pardons Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini

President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Venezuelan billionaire Julio Herrera Velutini in January 2026, following a legal battle involving federal corruption charges. Herrera Velutini had been indicted in 2022 for his alleged role in a scheme to support former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced’s reelection campaign in exchange for the replacement of a banking regulator. Although he reached a plea agreement in 2025 to resolve the case via a misdemeanor campaign finance offense, he sought full clemency to clear his record.

Reports indicate that the Herrera family offered Alina Habba, a longtime Trump attorney and then-Justice Department adviser, a contract potentially worth over $50 million. Under the agreement, Habba was to receive $10 million annually for four years as general counsel for Concord Partners, a firm founded by Herrera. This arrangement occurred while Habba was serving as a senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Financial contributions from the Herrera family to Trump-aligned entities were also noted, including millions donated to the super PAC MAGA Inc. White House officials have stated that these political contributions did not influence the decision to grant the pardon.