The Hill
Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.) pressed Kessler on whether he had discussions with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff about the decision to allow advanced chip sales to an Emirati AI firm last year.
The exchange turned tense, as the BIS chief declined to comment on such discussions.
“You are evading the answer, sir,” Keating said. “Why are you evading the answer? Why are you evading the answer? Could it be the conflict of interest in there with Witkoff and World Liberty Financial and the Trump administration, which the president personally benefited by? Could it be that? Could it be a fear? Are you afraid to give an answer, sir?”