Corruption allegations: White House is probably investigating former US ambassador Grenell over missing millions

Dusseldorf. In the dispute between two prominent confidants of US President Donald Trump, the White House is investigating a transfer of $17.6 million from the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Texas arms company. The New York Times and the news portal Axios reported this unanimously, citing people familiar with the process.

At the center is the former US ambassador and special envoy to Venezuela, Richard Grenell. At the time of the payment, he was running the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Trump's former lawyer Alina Habba, a former New Jersey prosecutor, accused Grenell of stealing some of the money, according to the report.

According to Axios, she stormed into the Oval Office on October 9th and shouted, "Ric stole the money!" The transfer probably comes from a deal that her current husband, the Turkish investor Turhan Mildon, carried out in 2025. According to the lawyers, it was intended for the Kennedy Center but never arrived there. Grenell denied the allegations. He told the New York Times that they were “absurd” and that he spoke of “lies” to Axios.

According to Axios, Mildon was supposed to transfer $17.6 million to Texas Armament & Technology (TXAT) on behalf of Grenell. About $5.6 million was earmarked for the Kennedy Center, the rest for a Congo deal. A financial receipt dated May 29, 2025 documents the transfer.

Habba initially told Trump that the money came from her husband. According to the New York Times, his lawyers' documents initially blacked out the sender. It later emerged that the money came from a Congolese government account.

A government official told Axios that the Treasury Department in Kinshasa made the transfer. “We’re trying to figure out whose money this is.” Mildon says he advises Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi through a spokesman and holds a diplomatic passport from the country. His company Milvest received several government construction contracts. He also has business in Venezuela, where Grenell served as a special envoy.

Mildon's lawyers provided the White House with a text message dated May 3, 2025, which Axios has viewed. In it, Grenell allegedly wrote: "As soon as the money is with the company here, I will arrange the donation to the Kennedy Center and you will be at the VIP events and get close to the government, even POTUS."

It also says that Mildon must be made the “American face” in Venezuela. The New York Times mentions a story from June 2025 asking for payment for a “software system.”

Grenell denies having written the texts. According to a person close to him, he refers, among other things, to the British spelling “Centre”.

Trump appointed his legal adviser Will Scharf to investigate. Scharf was a guest at Habba and Mildon's wedding in New York last month. According to Axios, he wants to check the digital trace of the message.

The purpose of the business is still unclear. It is also unclear how the Congo Treaty is connected to the Kennedy Center. Habba's information on the amount of donations changed several times: first 17 million, then around six million dollars.

A government official told Axios that Habba was unable to substantiate her allegations. At the same time, he said: “That doesn’t mean Ric is off the hook.” Those involved did not respond to inquiries from the New York Times or Axios.