WASHINGTON, October 19, 2026 — The White House is investigating a disputed $17.6 million transfer from a bank account linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government to a Texas-based defence company, following allegations involving two allies of President Donald Trump.
According to The New York Times, the money was transferred to TX-AT in May 2025. The inquiry intensified after Alina Habba Mildon, a former personal lawyer to Trump, questioned the handling of the transaction and alleged that $5.6 million was intended as a donation to the Kennedy Center but never reached the institution.
The funds were initially presented to White House officials as money from Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon, Habba’s husband. Officials later learned that the transfer originated from an account affiliated with the Congolese government, according to the report.
Mildon has acknowledged serving as an adviser to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and holds a diplomatic passport issued by the country.
Richard Grenell, a former Kennedy Centre leader who previously consulted for TX-AT in 2024, has denied wrongdoing and said he had no connection to the transfer when it occurred. The precise purpose of the transaction remains unclear.
TX-AT and the Congolese Foreign Ministry had not responded to requests for comments cited in the report.
The inquiry raises questions about the source and intended use of the funds, including the alleged Kennedy Centre donation. However, no finding of criminal wrongdoing has been established in the reporting reviewed, and there is no confirmed evidence that Tshisekedi personally authorised the payment.
The case places renewed attention on financial dealings involving Congolese-linked accounts and influential figures in Washington, although the transaction’s legality and ultimate purpose remain unresolved.