Senate Banking chair Tim Scott wants Jensen Huang and Howard Lutnick to testify. Hearings are requested for December.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott sent letters Thursday asking Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to testify over recent developments at the company. Scott said recent reports raise serious concerns about national security and the protection of sensitive US technology.
The letters request that Huang testify on Dec. 3 and Lutnick on Dec. 10. Scott warned Huang that the committee is prepared to use subpoenas if he does not appear voluntarily.
The letter to Lutnick said the Commerce Department’s role in issuing and enforcing export controls makes his testimony essential to congressional oversight. A growing number of lawmakers have criticized Lutnick over the administration’s refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a trade blacklist, and over its oversight of Nvidia’s exports to China. Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that senior White House officials were discussing whether Lutnick should be pushed out.
Separately, the chairs of three House committees, including Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast, told Huang and Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter to appear for closed-door transcribed interviews on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, respectively, or face subpoenas. Mast told reporters Thursday that Huang will testify before Congress ahead of Thanksgiving, though it is unclear whether in public or behind closed doors.
Huang stepped down from Nvidia after reports of a relationship with a businesswoman whom US authorities suspect of spying for the Chinese government. Nvidia has named CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO. Spokespeople for Huang and Lutnick could not immediately be reached for comment.
This report draws on Reuters, CNBC, Investing.com, The Globe and Mail and Bloomingbit.