US lawmakers demand answers after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns
Republican and Democratic leaders are seeking clarity on national security risks following reports of an affair between Huang and a suspected spy.
US lawmakers are seeking answers regarding national security risks after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigned on Thursday. According to The Economic Times, the resignation follows reports that Huang had an affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Megaspeed, who US intelligence suspects of working for Beijing.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Congress must demand answers from Huang and Nvidia regarding potential risks to national security. Schumer also questioned what the Trump administration knew about the relationship with the suspected intelligence asset.
Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast told reporters that Huang has tentatively agreed to a closed-door briefing. Mast said the committee is prepared to issue a subpoena if Huang changes his mind about testifying.
Representative John Moolenaar, who leads the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said Huang's testimony is vital to the investigation. Moolenaar wants to understand how Chinese intelligence operated and what sensitive information may have been accessed.
The controversy has renewed debates over US chip export controls to China. Moolenaar noted that Huang had previously advocated for looser rules on chip sales to the country.
Nvidia has appointed longtime finance chief Colette Kress as interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement. The company stated that day-to-day operations and product roadmaps will continue without interruption.
