October 14, 2026 · Corruption, Ethics & Self-Dealing
· Ethics and financial event
Developing
Trump Orders White House Probe of Habba's Claim That Grenell Hid Kennedy Center Millions
Alina Habba, Trump's former personal attorney, told Trump that Ric Grenell, the Kennedy Center's former leader, failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar Kennedy Center donation her husband, Turhan Mildon, made in 2025, Axios reported Oct. 14, 2026. The sum Habba has cited has shifted, from $17 million to roughly $5.6-6 million; Kennedy Center records show only a $270,000 pledge, which Mildon paid Oct. 13. Grenell called the allegation "absurd" and "a lie."
Trump directed White House counsel to investigate; counsel had requested documentation from Habba's attorneys but received none as of the report. The dispute surfaces amid Habba and Mildon's business ties to Venezuela and Grenell's earlier clash with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Venezuela policy.
No findings have been announced, and Grenell disputes the allegation.
Trump directed White House counsel to investigate; counsel had requested documentation from Habba's attorneys but received none as of the report. The dispute surfaces amid Habba and Mildon's business ties to Venezuela and Grenell's earlier clash with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Venezuela policy.
No findings have been announced, and Grenell disputes the allegation.