The marriage between Turkish investor Turhan Mildon and Alina Habba, the former personal attorney of US President Donald Trump, in New York has become a subject of debate in the American press, focusing on Mildon's business dealings in Venezuela and his political connections in the US.
In a report by The New York Times, it was alleged that 29-year-old Mildon has come onto the radar for US sanctions due to his relationships with figures close to the Maduro administration; in Venezuela, he is reportedly facing risks of audits and contract termination due to the state assets he operates. The Mildon camp has denied a significant portion of these allegations.
It was reported that Habba and Mildon were married last month in a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, and that high-level figures from Trump's circle and the US administration attended the wedding. The report stated that individuals such as FBI Director Kash Patel and US Attorney Todd Blanche were also present at the ceremony.
BUSINESS IN VENEZUELA UNDER SCRUTINY
According to the NYT, Mildon began doing business in Venezuela in late 2023 and established contact with Alex Saab, who is known for his proximity to the Maduro administration. The report alleged that Mildon obtained the right to operate cement factories in 2025 and subsequently took over a shrimp production and export facility that had previously been seized by the Venezuelan government.
Mildon's spokesperson stated that they entered a tender for the cement factories and denied the allegation that he is linked to Saab's shrimp business. It was reported that some business people in the region argue that state assets are being distributed through non-transparent processes.
The report claimed that Delcy Rodríguez, who took office as interim leader following Maduro's departure, ordered an audit of the state-owned cement factories operated by Mildon and brought up the possibility of contract cancellation on the grounds that investment targets were not met.
It was alleged that in an interview with Forbes Turkey, Mildon claimed to produce 4.5 million tons of cement annually in Venezuela and provide employment for 20 thousand people in the shrimp business, but that official data does not align with these statements. Mildon's spokesperson argued that these statements were misquoted in the magazine.
DENIAL OF SANCTION ALLEGATIONS
The NYT report also claimed that the US administration was evaluating the option of sanctions against Mildon, whom it views as close to the former Maduro circle. However, the report noted that the US government later denied this claim, and Mildon's spokesperson described the sanction allegations as "completely baseless and malicious rumors."
The Mildon camp stated that no audit had been conducted by the government in Venezuela and that the notification regarding the termination of the contract only reached them on October 8. The spokesperson argued that the letter in question was an error.
White House officials stated that Alina Habba has not discussed her husband's business dealings with President Trump or other officials. In a statement, Habba also said that she has not made any initiatives on behalf of her husband before the White House or the administration.
The report also addressed Mildon's business relationships extending from Turkey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and then to Venezuela. Mildon's representative stated that some of the identification and connection allegations do not reflect the truth.
News Source: 12punto
