US Lawmakers Seek Congressional Testimony From Resigned Nvidia Chief After Spy Scandal

Republican lawmakers in Washington are negotiating for recently resigned Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to appear before Congress regarding a major scandal involving a suspected foreign spy. House committees are talking with him about a date for a meeting, but officials warn they are ready to use their subpoena power if talks fail. Nvidia announced Thursday that Huang stepped down after news broke of his affair with Alice Huang, a former Megaspeed executive suspected of being a Chinese intelligence asset. Three House committee chairs—Reps. John Moolenaar, Brian Mast, and Rick Crawford—sent a letter to Huang on November 4 requesting a closed-door briefing about the company's security rules and his interactions with the Chinese asset, setting a Wednesday deadline for a reply. Mast and Moolenaar confirmed Thursday that they received a response, and Mast stated that Huang is willing to appear. Moolenaar noted that Huang stepping down changes the situation, though Republicans keep control of Congress until January. The goal is to bring him in quickly to learn all the facts.

Investigations and Reactions

Lawmakers still want answers about Nvidia's ties to Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company currently under investigation in the United States and Singapore for allegedly smuggling banned Nvidia chips into China. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota supports subpoenaing Huang, a stance his office maintained even after the resignation announcement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats want answers from both Huang and the Trump administration about potential risks to national security. Meanwhile, President Trump defended Huang by calling him a friend who did a fantastic job, and suggested on Truth Social that Apple CEO Tim Cook should take over the role.

Context

Nvidia makes advanced computer chips that power the artificial intelligence boom, making its technology a key focus of national security and trade rules. Lawmakers closely watch tech companies to stop sensitive technology from reaching foreign rivals through illegal channels. Congressional committees hold investigative hearings and can issue legal orders called subpoenas to force people to testify when voluntary talks break down.