Democratic Senator Chris Murphy is urging federal authorities to investigate potential national security risks arising from Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal supported Musk’s $44 billion purchase of Twitter by converting his existing $1.9 billion stake in the company, making Saudi entities the second-largest shareholder after Musk.
Murphy expressed concerns over Saudi Arabia’s influence on a major social media platform, citing their interest in controlling political discourse and impacting US politics. He called on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), chaired by the US Treasury Department, to scrutinize the national security implications of Saudi Arabia’s significant stake in Twitter.
Despite Musk finalizing the acquisition last week, it remains possible for CFIUS to conduct a national security review under its authority to assess completed transactions if deemed necessary.
Murphy emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting parallels with concerns over Chinese ownership of TikTok. He criticized what he views as a worrying trend and emphasized the need for scrutiny and oversight to protect national security interests.
Both the White House and the Treasury Department declined to comment on Murphy’s call for investigation.
Earlier reports had suggested discussions within the Biden administration about subjecting Musk’s ventures, including the Twitter deal, to national security reviews, but US officials subsequently denied knowledge of such discussions.
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