White House: DR Congo $17.6 Million Probe Targets TX-AT Transfer

• A White House investigation is examining a $17.6 million transfer from a Congolese government-linked bank account to a Texas security firm, TX-AT.
• The May 2025 transaction involves associates of former US President Donald Trump, Richard Grenell and Alina Habba Mildon, who currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys, amidst a dispute over $5.6 million allegedly intended for the Kennedy Center.
• Alina Habba Mildon claims Grenell was involved in the non-payment of funds to the Kennedy Center, an allegation Grenell denies.
• The probe seeks to establish the money's origin, the transaction's purpose, and any formal commitment to the Kennedy Center.
• Turhan Mildon, Alina Habba Mildon's husband, holds a Congolese diplomatic passport and his company, Milvest, has secured significant public contracts in DR Congo.

The ongoing White House investigation underscores the intense scrutiny now placed on international financial transactions, particularly those involving government-linked entities and politically exposed persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A significant White House investigation is currently underway, focusing on a $17.6 million financial transfer originating from a bank account with ties to the Congolese government. This substantial sum was directed to TX-AT, a security and defense company based in Texas, as reported by The New York Times on October 17. The transaction, which took place in May 2025, has drawn scrutiny due to its connection with two individuals associated with former US President Donald Trump.

At the heart of this probe is a contentious dispute involving Richard Grenell, who previously served as president of the Kennedy Center, and Alina Habba Mildon, who currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys. The investigation aims to unravel the complexities surrounding this large sum of money, particularly its ultimate source and the intended use of the funds, given the high-profile individuals and government-linked entities involved.

Alina Habba Mildon has leveled accusations against Richard Grenell, alleging his involvement in a financial arrangement where $5.6 million was designated for the Kennedy Center but was never actually disbursed to the cultural institution. Grenell, however, has vehemently denied these claims, asserting that he neither received any funds from Turhan Mildon, Habba Mildon's husband, nor did he request the redirection of money intended for the Kennedy Center.

The White House investigation is tasked with establishing several critical facts: the true origin of the $17.6 million, the specific purpose behind the transaction, and whether any formal commitment existed for the payment of funds to the Kennedy Center. While Grenell acknowledged providing consulting services to the TX-AT security defense company in 2024, he maintains he had no association with the firm at the time of the May 2025 transfer and denies any involvement in the transaction itself. The precise commercial arrangement underpinning this payment remains largely undefined, according to The New York Times.

The transaction has brought into sharp focus the extensive business and diplomatic ties of Turhan Mildon, a Turkish businessman and husband to Alina Habba Mildon, with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Initially, Habba Mildon indicated that the $17.6 million originated from her husband, but The New York Times subsequently reported that the DR Congo government bank account transfer was made from an account affiliated with the Congolese government.

Turhan Mildon has publicly confirmed his role as an adviser to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and possesses a Congolese diplomatic passport. Furthermore, he leads Milvest, a company that has successfully secured several significant public contracts in DR Congo, notably including the construction of the Kinshasa Financial Center. Despite these clear connections, it has been noted that these links alone do not definitively establish that the funds directly originated from the Congolese state budget or were specifically tied to Milvest's public contracts. The purpose of the payment, as well as the commercial arrangement, continues to be unclear, with both TX-AT and Congolese officials declining to comment on the matter to the newspaper.

The ongoing White House investigation underscores the intense scrutiny now placed on international financial transactions, particularly those involving government-linked entities and politically exposed persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This case highlights the critical need for transparency and robust due diligence in cross-border financial dealings, especially when large sums of money are transferred to private entities like the TX-AT security defense company.

The involvement of Trump associates and the alleged diversion of funds intended for a cultural institution add layers of complexity and public interest to the DR Congo $17.6 million White House probe. The outcome of this investigation could set precedents for how international financial transfers, particularly those connected to foreign governments and politically influential individuals, are scrutinized and regulated in the future, emphasizing the importance of understanding the ultimate source and purpose of funds to prevent potential illicit activities.

Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor the outcome of this White House investigation, as it highlights significant scrutiny on international financial transactions involving DR Congo government-linked entities and politically exposed persons. This case underscores the importance of robust due diligence, particularly regarding the ultimate source and purpose of funds, to mitigate risks of money laundering and corruption, especially when dealing with public contracts or individuals with political ties in the region.

Source: Reporting based on The New York Times