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Explosive elevator ride between two Trump officials is talk of DC. Now investigation into indecent footage seeks to uncover the truth
A senior Trump administration official is under investigation by the State Department following an alleged assault incident in an elevator at the agency's Washington headquarters in early July. Gavin Wax, 32, chief of staff to the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, is accused of threatening and forcefully pushing Ali Motamedi, a special assistant to the US special envoy to Greenland. The incident has become the subject of an internal investigation by the State Department's Office of Special Investigations, with both officials offering fundamentally different accounts of what transpired.
The disputed encounter occurred when Motamedi boarded an elevator and encountered Wax with a third witness present. Motamedi's formal complaint describes an unprovoked physical altercation involving a threat, whilst sources supporting Wax claim the conversation began civilly over expense reimbursements before becoming hostile due to Motamedi's alleged pattern of antisemitic remarks about Wax's Jewish heritage. The third witness reportedly corroborated Wax's account during a Diplomatic Security review, denying that physical contact or threats occurred, though sources sympathetic to Motamedi reject the antisemitism allegations entirely. Neither official has commented publicly on the matter.
In short
- Trump official investigated for alleged assault and threats against colleague in State Department elevator
- Competing accounts: physical assault claimed versus disputed comments about religious heritage
- Third witness account is central to internal investigation determining facts
Explained simply
The significance of the incident lies in the sharply conflicting accounts of what happened. Motamedi claims he was threatened and physically pushed without provocation, whilst Wax's supporters argue the encounter stemmed from a discussion about expense reimbursements that turned hostile, with Motamedi allegedly making antisemitic remarks about Wax's Jewish background. A third witness present during the incident has reportedly backed Wax's version of events, though those supporting Motamedi dispute the antisemitism allegations entirely.
The case highlights tensions within the Trump administration's foreign service operations and raises questions about workplace conduct at senior levels. Because the two officials offer fundamentally different accounts of a disputed incident, an investigation by the State Department's Office of Special Investigations is attempting to establish what actually occurred, with potential consequences for both men's positions and the department's credibility.