State Department watchdog asked to investigate senior Trump officials over UAE chip sales

The US State Department's watchdog has acknowledged a request from lawmakers to investigate former Trump administration officials regarding the sale of sensitive AI chips to the United Arab Emirates. The investigation, requested by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Elise Slotkin, focuses on David Sacks and Steve Witkoff. Lawmakers are concerned about their roles in advocating for the technology sales while allegedly having undisclosed financial ties to the UAE's national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The request highlights that Witkoff pushed for the sales as a company run by his son received a $2 billion investment from one of Sheikh Tahnoon's firms. The probe seeks to determine if the officials stood to gain financially from relaxing national security restrictions on advanced technology exports to the UAE.