Politics
House Committee Chairs Demand Closed-Door Briefing from Nvidia CEO Over Alleged Spy Affair
Three Republican committee chairs have formally requested that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang testify before Congress about his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy, threatening a subpoena if he refuses. The demand comes as the Justice Department pursues a criminal investigation into the woman and her company, Megaspeed.
Three Republican committee chairs have formally requested that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang appear before Congress in a joint, closed-door briefing to address national security concerns stemming from his reported affair with an alleged Chinese spy, according to a letter reviewed by reporters.
Reps. Brian Mast, John Moolenaar, and Rick Crawford signed the letter, which asks Huang to appear on Nov. 18 or propose an alternative date. The lawmakers specifically want Huang to explain Nvidia's security protocols against foreign espionage and to detail his interactions with Alice Huang, an executive at the company Megaspeed who is alleged to have ties to Chinese intelligence.
"It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk," the letter states.
Huang has until Wednesday to respond to the request. Mast is reportedly considering issuing a subpoena if the Nvidia chief executive does not agree to appear voluntarily.
The congressional demand follows a statement last Sunday from Nvidia's board of directors, which said it has "no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised" but pledged that its inquiry "will examine all available information."
The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into Alice Huang and Megaspeed, according to reports. The nature of the alleged espionage and the specific security concerns at issue have not been publicly detailed.
The request for testimony underscores growing scrutiny of the semiconductor industry's vulnerabilities to foreign intelligence operations. Nvidia, headquartered in Santa Clara, is a linchpin of the U.S. artificial intelligence sector, and its CEO's personal conduct is now entangled with broader questions about corporate security and national defense.
For Bay Area residents, the controversy raises uncomfortable questions about how one of the region's most important companies safeguards its technology and trade secretsâand whether personal relationships at the highest levels of corporate leadership could create openings for adversaries.
The closed-door format of the requested briefing means the public may not learn the full extent of what Huang tells lawmakers. But the threat of a subpoena signals that Congress intends to pursue the matter regardless of the company's internal review.