Whittakoff to Face Investigation Over Transactions with the United Arab Emirates

The U.S. Special Representative for Trade, Steve Whittakoff, may be subject to an ethical investigation due to transactions made with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Semafor.

The report, citing internal correspondence, states that the Department of State's independent watchdog is reviewing a request from two Democratic senators to investigate whether officials from the Trump administration violated ethical standards concerning their dealings related to the UAE.

The inquiry was initiated by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan). The State Department has confirmed that it is under review.

The agency may investigate not only Whittakoff but also the involvement of “crypto czar” David Sacks in the issuance of export licenses for progressive American microchips to the UAE. The senators are demanding that the State Department, as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Ethics Office, clarify their respective roles in these agreements.