US senator asks former Nvidia chief Huang and commerce secretary to testify

Scott, a Republican, asked Huang to appear voluntarily on 3 December. He said he would consider issuing a subpoena if Huang did not appear, Reuters reported. It is not yet clear whether Huang will attend.

A spokesperson for Lutnick said the commerce secretary had agreed to appear voluntarily before the committee, according to Just the News, which cited an interview with NBC News.

Scott said recent reports raised “serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive US technology”. His requests came hours after Nvidia announced Huang’s resignation as chief executive, president and board member. Finance chief Colette Kress has taken over as interim CEO. Nvidia did not give a reason for his departure.

The resignation followed reports that Jensen Huang had a relationship with businesswoman Alice Huang, whom US authorities suspect of spying for China, according to Reuters. China has denied she is a spy, and US Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Thursday that the Justice Department had not reached a conclusion. The two Huangs are not related.

Lutnick also faces criticism from lawmakers over the administration’s refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a US trade blacklist and questions about its oversight of Nvidia exports to China.

Separately, three House committee chairs have asked Jensen Huang and Nvidia’s general counsel, Tim Teter, to attend closed-door interviews on 1 and 2 December, respectively, or face subpoenas, Reuters reported.