Trump administration gay envoy Ric Grenell is reaping the whirlwind amid allegations of lavish spending, cronyism, and a bombing box office that hes brought to the Kennedy Center while serving as leader of the nations once-preeminent cultural institution.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced in a letter to Grenell, made public on Thursday, that Democrats on the Senates Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over all public buildings owned by the federal government, have initiated an investigation into Grenell and his leadership of the treasured American institution and memorial. Related Empty seats & plummeting sales have plagued Kennedy Center since Trumps takeover: Its dire Addressed to Ambassador Grenell, a title the former top diplomat to Germany has ordered Kennedy Center subordinates to call him, Sen. Whitehouse told Trumps personal pick to head the cultural center, I have ample reason to be concerned by reports and information that cast doubt on your stewardship of the institution.Contracts, invoices, and facility use agreements reveal that you operate the Center for the enrichment of your friends and acquaintances, to dole out political favors, and as a playground for the President of the United States and his allies, Whitehouse writes in the unvarnished takedown of the ambassadors reportedly corrupt management of the living memorial to former President John F. Kennedy. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The Center is being looted to the tune of millions of dollars in foregone revenue, cancelled programming, unpaid use of its facilities, and wasteful spending on luxury restaurants and hotels an unprecedented pattern of self-dealing, favoritism, and waste, the letter stated.Grenells performance at the Kennedy Center has prompted multiple staffers to come forward as whistleblowers to the Senate committee. The former ambassador and short-lived director of national intelligence in the last, chaotic days of the first Trump administration was handed leadership of the center as a consolation prize after being passed over for Secretary of State.Grenell also holds the amorphous and doubly special title of the Centers interim president and special presidential envoy for special missions. Hes already been admonished for his performance in that role after meddling in a Venezuela prisoner swap earlier this year.Grenell has reportedly taken out his frustrations over being sidelined in foreign policy ever since, and has allegedly been reduced to stage-managing diplomatic events at the center while partying hard at taxpayers expense with friends and business associates at the nearby Watergate hotel. Over eight days alone this summer, Grenell spent more than $11,000 on meals for himself and his friends, according to restaurant receipts and bills from the Kennedy Centers catering company culled from documents obtained by Whitehouses committee.In response to the committees investigation announcement, Grenell called his guests donors to the financially strapped center.Grenells allegedly corrupt management style has also furthered the political aims of the Trump administration at the once-bipartisan institution.He slashed use fees for the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) when they held a conference at the Kennedy Center earlier this year, an unprecedented booking to begin with for the formerly politically neutral venue. He did the same for FIFA, soccers Trump-friendly governing world body. That steeply-discounted arrangement was a complete takeover of the center, forcing the cancellation of multiple performances over the holiday season, according to The New York Times.FIFA will announce the winner of their newly created Peace Prize dreamed up after Trump was passed over for a Nobel honor in October live from the Kennedy Center this month.Grenell is also handing out lavish salaries and fees to friends and political allies. Contracts show he hired his former chief of staff to write speeches for $15,000 a month, while Kari Lake, the former local news anchor and Trumps pick to head the hollowed-out Voice of America network, was paid a favor when Grenell hired her husband to make social media videos for $10,833.33 a month.This week, Grenell watched from the sidelines as Trump delivered remarks at the Eisenhower Theatre at the Kennedy Center for an economic forum held in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his visit to the United States.History is being made here at the nations center for the performing arts, one of Grenells cronies posted to the Kennedy Centers Facebook page.It may be the closest the ambassador ever gets to the diplomatic stage again.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.