White House Investigates Text Alleging Richard Grenell Offered Influence

White House Counsel Reviews Allegations Against richard grenell

The White House counsel is actively investigating allegations that former top administration adviser richard grenell outlined a pay-for-influence scheme with a foreign billionaire. Administration officials have identified a specific text message as a central piece of evidence in a probe ordered by President Trump regarding potential misappropriation of funds.

According to reviewed materials, the May 2025 text message allegedly promised access to high-ranking officials and administration events in exchange for funds routed to the Kennedy Center. Grenell, who previously led the Kennedy Center, has strongly denied the accusations, calling them lies and asserting he never sent the message.

The Role of Turhan Mildon and Alina Habba

The controversy expanded when attorneys for Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon furnished correspondence and financial records to the White House counsel. Mildon alleged that at Grenell's direction, he wired millions of dollars linked to a defense company's software deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a portion intended for the Kennedy Center.

Mildon is married to former U.S. attorney Alina Habba, who also serves as a Trump adviser. Habba reportedly visited the Oval Office to voice concerns that a promised donation to the Kennedy Center never materialized. However, administration sources noted that figures regarding the exact financial amounts provided by Habba shifted during discussions, and the origin of the wired funds remains under scrutiny.

Disputed Evidence and Denials

Grenell's defense points to linguistic details within the disputed text message, noting that the word "center" was spelled using British English as "centre." Allies of Grenell have also questioned background details concerning Mildon.

While the White House continues to examine the origin of the financial transactions and the validity of the correspondence, neither the business entities involved nor Mildon's spokespeople have provided immediate comments. The investigation remains ongoing as officials try to clarify the conflicting financial figures and accounts.

Sources: Axios, The New York Times, The New Republic.