‘Pay-for-influence’ scandal involving Trump allies hits White House: report

President Donald Trump has ordered an internal inquiry into whether Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy and former head of the Kennedy Center, diverted a large gift meant for the arts venue, Axios reported Monday, according to The Independent.

Turhan Mildon, a Turkish businessman, is said to have been told last May to wire about $17 million to Texas Armament & Technology of Houston, with roughly $6 million earmarked for the Kennedy Center. Alina Habba, who is married to Mildon and previously served as U.S. attorney for New Jersey, contends the center never got the money. She raised it with Trump in the Oval Office on October 9, though the sum reportedly shifted from $17 million to $5.6 million. Grenell rejects the claims, calling them "absurd," and denies sending a text that promised Mildon access to VIP events.

Trump asked White House Counsel Will Scharf to look into it, and Mildon's lawyers sent documents last week. Kennedy Center staff have told the White House that Mildon was often present there, even in the vice president's box. Vice President JD Vance said he has seen no evidence that Trump takes part in corruption.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →