A White House investigation launched October 9 examines whether Ric Grenell skimmed a nearly $6 million Kennedy Center donation. The probe has expanded into the finances of Alina Habba’s husband, Turhan Mildon, following allegations of misrepresented wealth and suspicious international business deals.
Alina Habba, a former attorney for Donald Trump, entered the Oval Office to report that her husband had been duped. She claimed Grenell never deposited a donation of nearly $6 million that Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon made to the Kennedy Center in 2025.
White House counsel Will Scharf is investigating. He is reviewing text messages allegedly sent by Grenell to Mildon on May 3, 2025.
These messages suggested a donation would grant Mildon proximity to the administration.
Once the money comes to the company here, I will arrange the donation to Kennedy Centre [sic], and you’ll be joining the VIP events and get close with the administration, even with POTUS.
Ric Grenell, via New York Post
Congo Funds Fuel $17.6 Million Transfer
Financial records provided to the White House show a May 29, 2025, wire transfer of $17.6 million to a Texas company. The $5.6 million Kennedy Center donation was meant to be part of this sum.
The origin of the money is disputed. Habba claimed the donation came from her husband. However, officials concluded the $17.6 million actually originated from a Congolese government account, specifically the Ministère des Finances.
U.S. officials believe the payment related to a software deal for the Democratic Republic of Congo. They do not believe it was a personal philanthropic gift from Mildon.
Grenell denied receiving funds from Mildon or doing any wrongdoing. He disputed the May 3 text message. He argued he would not use the British English spelling of centre
instead of the American center
.
I’ve never asked for one cent to be sent somewhere else pretending it was for the Kennedy Center, and I’ve never received any payment from him at all.
Ric Grenell, via Yahoo
Investigation Questions Mildon’s Wealth
Investigators are now scrutinizing Turhan Mildon’s personal and professional claims. Mildon presents himself as a 29-year-old billionaire. The New York Times reports several inconsistencies in his background.
- Age: Documents and former classmates indicate Mildon is 25, not 29.
- Marital History: Ex-associates report a religious marriage last year to the daughter of a Venezuelan commander. A spokesman describes this as only an engagement.
- Financial Health: The Venezuelan government criticized Mildon’s cement company in June for investing only 6 percent of agreed capital. Workers and suppliers have reported debts and unpaid wages.
Mildon holds contracts exceeding $500 million for copper, cobalt, and gold mines in Congo. Some are reported as delayed or unfinished.
In Venezuela, the interim president canceled his contract to run plants in June. That termination was reportedly paused after officials learned of his marriage to Habba.
White House Rift Deepens
The clash between Habba and Grenell has created a rift among Trump’s inner circle. The president directed aides to investigate. Findings have reportedly damaged Habba’s standing at the White House.
The Kennedy Center found no record of a multimillion-dollar gift. Financial staffer Lisa Dale noted that Mildon actually owed the center a pledged donation of $270,000. She stated nothing in the records regarding a $6 million payment.
One official noted that while the president is concerned, the possibility of missing money presents a big, big problem
.