Prosecutors Say Saudi Officials Helped OpenAI Suspect's Family Leave U.S. After Oct. 9 Arrest
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 19
Prosecutors Say Saudi Officials Helped OpenAI Suspect's Family Leave U.S. After Oct. 9 Arrest
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 19
Summary
Federal prosecutors said Saudi officials arranged and paid for travel that got Abdulrahman Alfozan’s wife and 3-month-old son out of the United States about 36 hours after his Oct. 9 arrest.
That assistance underpins the government’s bid to keep the former OpenAI engineer jailed, arguing he could draw on support from a foreign government with no U.S. extradition treaty and remains a serious flight risk.
Prosecutors said Alfozan researched encrypted live-listening devices for weeks, hid one behind a conference-room television, and left a second similar recorder in a bag at OpenAI’s printer room.
Investigators also said he searched OpenAI records on Saudi government engagements and stayed in frequent contact with a Saudi royal who tried to recruit him for a Saudi AI initiative, though the filing does not allege Riyadh directed the surveillance.
The FBI arrested Alfozan after finding he held a one-way ticket to Riyadh for Oct. 12; prosecutors say the probe could bring additional charges and warned the alleged bugging may have exposed sensitive meetings with U.S. officials.