Trump calls Alina Habba Milton’s $50M deal ‘obnoxious’
The Halloween party backdrop makes this one easy to picture, even if the details are still fuzzy. Trump calling his former lawyer's alleged $50 million pardon deal "obnoxious and outrageous" is a striking turn, given how close the two once were. When a president and his own attorney start trading public insults over something this serious, it raises questions about what really happened behind closed doors.
The New York Times report points to a deal involving Venezuelan interests, though the story is still incomplete. I'd want to know what evidence exists beyond the accusation. A pardon is one of the most consequential powers a president holds, and any suggestion it was traded for money deserves scrutiny. That's true whether you support Trump or not.
At the same time, Trump is denying any connection. Without more reporting, we're left with a he-said-she-said between two people who know each other's secrets. The real story will come from the investigation, and I'll be watching for what it turns up.