Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) has warned that alleged secret payments from a UAE investor to entities linked to former President Donald Trump and a special envoy could constitute “potentially criminal conduct.” The allegations involve a $500 million investment in the Trump-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial, followed by the Trump administration approving expanded UAE access to restricted U.S. AI chips. Democrats are demanding testimony and labeling the sequence a case of blatant corruption.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) declared that individuals involved in alleged secret payments from a United Arab Emirates investor could face jail time. He described the situation as “potentially criminal conduct” tied to the transfer of sensitive U.S. defense technology following a deal involving the Trump-linked cryptocurrency firm World Liberty Financial.
The allegations stem from a transaction in which Aryam Investment, a UAE-backed entity, agreed to purchase a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million. This deal occurred just four days before former President Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to a report. Roughly $187 million was reportedly directed to Trump family entities, with at least $31 million going to entities affiliated with the family of special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Trump administration later approved expanded UAE access to advanced U.S. AI chips that had been restricted. Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff are listed as co-founders emeritus of World Liberty Financial, the DeFi firm behind the USD1 stablecoin. The firm states that Trump and his family hold no director, officer, or employee roles.
On the Senate floor, Murphy summarized the alleged sequence as covert payments followed by the sharing of restricted technology. “That is corruption. Those are the elements of a bribe,” Murphy stated. He warned that accountability is inevitable, asserting “the rule of law is coming back” and that those who traded official favors for money “are going to jail.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has previously called the situation “corruption, plain and simple.” She demanded the Trump administration reverse its decision on the AI chip sales. Congressman Greg Landsman echoed the sentiment, stating “Trump gets $500 million in cash then approves deal sending advanced AI chips to UAE. Blatant corruption.”
Warren has repeatedly warned about the Trump family’s crypto ties to the UAE. She urged the Senate not to pass the Genius Act, arguing it would facilitate corruption tied to a separate $2 billion investment by Emirati firm MGX into Binance. The White House and World Liberty Financial did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
