Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns amid spy scandal, Congress demands answers on China links
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Jensen Huang stepped down as Nvidia chief after allegations of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, and lawmakers from both parties are moving quickly to investigate possible threats to national security, export-control compliance, and the integrity of America’s semiconductor leadership.
Jensen Huang resigned as chief executive of Nvidia on Thursday following reports that he had an affair with a woman identified as a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. The revelation has triggered immediate interest from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are preparing inquiries into possible impacts on U.S. artificial-intelligence leadership and export-control compliance, as concerns grow over foreign influence and sensitive technology.
Republican leaders, who retain control of both chambers for the next six weeks, have summoned Huang to appear before congressional committees and indicated they will issue a subpoena if he does not cooperate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the situation presents "high stakes" for national security and expects follow-up action, signaling that Congress intends to take the matter seriously and press for full accountability.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced criticism after reports that he delayed the Trump administration’s restrictions on firms shipping Nvidia chips to China. The Bureau of Industry and Security’s role in the matter is also under review, after Nvidia general counsel Tim Teter disclosed communications with BIS official Jeffrey Kessler to investigators, raising further questions about whether bureaucratic delay weakened enforcement.
Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott announced that both Huang and Lutnick have been asked to testify before the committee in December, and Lutnick has agreed to appear voluntarily. Scott wrote to Huang that recent reports raise serious concerns about national security and the protection of sensitive technology, underscoring the need to get clear answers from those involved.
Democrats, set to assume control of the House and Senate in January, have signaled that they will continue oversight. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for answers from Nvidia executives, while incoming Senate Banking Committee chair Elizabeth Warren said the company still owes Congress information about export-control compliance. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons sent a letter to senior officials urging preservation of documents related to Nvidia’s AI-chip exports to China, as lawmakers seek to preserve evidence and prevent any further concealment.
In the House, Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast said Huang has agreed to testify before multiple committees in the coming weeks and expects the appearance before Thanksgiving. Mast warned that if Huang does not cooperate, a subpoena will be issued. House Select China Committee Chair John Moolenaar and House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford also sent a second request to Huang and Nvidia counsel, setting an 8 p.m. ET deadline for a response.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he wants clarification on how the alleged affair may have affected chip shipments to China and whether any diversion occurred. The investigation marks a rapid shift for Huang, who previously served as a prominent advocate for the AI industry in Washington, and now faces scrutiny over whether Nvidia’s leadership put America’s strategic interests at risk.