Senator Raises Concerns Over UAE Investment in Trump-Linked Crypto Firm

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut has raised alarms over a transaction involving UAE investors allegedly making secret payments to a crypto company linked to U.S. President Donald Trump. According to PANews, Murphy highlighted that four days before Trump's inauguration, Aryam Investment, associated with UAE's Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, agreed to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm connected to Trump, for $500 million. Of this amount, approximately $187 million went to entities linked to the Trump family, and at least $31 million was directed to entities associated with Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Following this transaction, the Trump administration approved expanded access for the UAE to advanced U.S. AI chips, which were later restricted under the Biden administration. Murphy described these actions as "corruption" and "potential criminal behavior," suggesting that the secret transfer of substantial funds to Trump and his envoy's family was followed by the sharing of restricted security technology with the UAE. Murphy warned that while accountability might be delayed, consequences are inevitable, asserting that "the rule of law is returning" and those who traded power for money "will go to jail." Previously, it was reported that a confidant of the Abu Dhabi royal family secretly invested $500 million to acquire a 49% stake in Trump's WLFI company. Trump responded by stating he was unaware of the $500 million investment from Abu Dhabi, noting that his sons were handling the matter.