Trump Adviser Grenell Accused of Offering Presidential Access for Cash in Leaked Text

Axios reported October 19 it reviewed a text in which Trump adviser Ric Grenell, then head of the Kennedy Center, allegedly told Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon he would arrange a Kennedy Center donation once money reached Mildon's company. Mildon says he wired $17.6 million to a firm called Texas Armament & Technology at Grenell's direction, including about $5.6 million meant for the Kennedy Center that never arrived. White House Counsel Will Scharf is investigating the claim.

The allegation, if substantiated, would describe a senior adviser monetizing proximity to the president for personal benefit, the kind of self-dealing the administration's own ethics rules are meant to prevent.

Grenell has called the accusations lies and denied sending the text; the White House review is ongoing and no findings have been announced.