Secret Texts Expose Richard Grenell’s $5.6 Million ‘Pay-for-Access’ Offer to Turkish Billionaire — Federal Probe Launched

Washington — Richard “Ric” Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence and current senior adviser to President Trump, is under White House investigation over an alleged “pay-for-access” scheme tied to a still-missing $5.6 million Kennedy Center donation and a mysterious $17.6 million wire from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Key points • A May 2025 text message—now in the hands of White House counsel—purportedly shows Grenell promising Turkish billionaire Turhan Mildon VIP events and direct “POTUS” access once money “comes to the company” and a donation is routed to the Kennedy Center. Grenell insists the text is fake. • Mildon says he followed Grenell’s instructions, wiring $17.6 million to Houston-based defense contractor Texas Armament & Technology (TXAT). Roughly one-third of that sum was earmarked for the Kennedy Center but never arrived. • Mildon’s new wife, longtime Trump ally Alina Habba, confronted the president on Oct. 9, accusing Grenell of stealing the donation. Trump immediately ordered counsel Will Scharf to investigate. • Investigators are now authenticating the text’s digital footprint and tracing the Congo funds, while Kennedy Center insiders confirm Mildon enjoyed high-level access despite no recorded gift. • Grenell dismisses the accusations as “absurd” and notes that the word “centre” in the text is British spelling—a detail he claims proves it was forged. Why it matters The inquiry threatens to derail Grenell’s influential role inside the West Wing and undermine Republican fundraising efforts months before the mid-terms. Any evidence that a top adviser monetized presidential access could expose the administration to criminal liability and fresh ethics headaches. Inside the feud Habba and Grenell had worked together on conservative donor outreach until their relationship soured over Mildon’s ventures in Venezuela and Africa. The New York Times reports that the once-cordial allies are now locked in a “bitter feud,” each accusing the other of deception and self-enrichment. Follow the money • $17.6 million: wired from Congo’s finance ministry to TXAT on May 29, 2025. • $5.6 million: supposed Kennedy Center share, still unaccounted for. • $10 million: price tag of Mildon and Habba’s lavish September wedding, raising further questions about their cash flows. What’s next Scharf’s team is subpoenaing TXAT banking records and Kennedy Center correspondence. Forensic analysts are examining the text’s metadata, while congressional Democrats signal possible hearings if the White House investigation stalls. Bottom line Whether the disputed text is authentic or not, the Grenell-Habba-Mildon triangle has already ignited a high-stakes scandal blending art-world philanthropy, international arms deals, and intramural MAGA warfare. With both money and access missing, pressure is mounting for definitive answers—and fast.