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White House Launches Investigation Into Grenell Pay-to-Play Allegations

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

White House counsel opened an investigation into Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell for an alleged pay-to-play scheme.
President Donald Trump ordered the probe after former Trump lawyer Alina Habba reported a May 3 2025 text to Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon.
Habba alleged Mildon transferred $17.6 million to Texas firm TX-AT, with $5.6 million meant for the Kennedy Center never arriving.
Grenell denied sending the text, called the claims “lies,” and said he never received payment from Mildon.

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Story summary

White House counsel opened an investigation into Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell for an alleged pay-to-play scheme.
President Donald Trump ordered the probe after former Trump lawyer Alina Habba reported a May 3 2025 text to Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon.
Habba alleged Mildon transferred $17.6 million to Texas firm TX-AT, with $5.6 million meant for the Kennedy Center never arriving.
Grenell denied sending the text, called the claims “lies,” and said he never received payment from Mildon.