The Senate Banking Committee wants testimony from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about whether the U.S. adhered to rules around the export of advanced computer chips to China.
Committee Chairman Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, sent a letter to Mr. Huang requesting his appearance on Dec. 3. A separate letter asked Mr. Lutnick to appear on Dec. 10.
“Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive U.S. technology,” Mr. Scott said on social media.
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The chairman is referring to Mr. Huang’s decision to resign as CEO of Nvidia, the chipmaker he transformed from a gaming supplier to a $4 trillion behemoth, following revelations that he had affairs with Alice Huang, an alleged Chinese spy, and a company executive.
Congressional lawmakers want to know if the relationship compromised national security by letting Chinese officials gain inside knowledge or evade export controls through third parties.
Ms. Huang, the purported spy, is a major shareholder in a Singapore-based artificial intelligence company, Megaspeed, so lawmakers want to know if she used the company to divert Nvidia products to China.
The situation caused divisions within the administration, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronting Mr. Lutnick on the Commerce Department’s alleged reluctance to rein in Nvidia and enforce export controls, especially on Megaspeed, according to Axios.
The White House stood by Mr. Lutnick, saying President Trump maintains confidence in him.
Mr. Scott said the administration must inform his committee of any changes to export regulations with an “explanation of their intent and rationale.”
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