Lutnick agrees to testify over Nvidia spy scandal

Lutnick agrees to testify

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed Thursday to testify before Congress over national security concerns regarding the expanding Nvidia scandal.

Nvidia CEO resigns over spy affair

Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia's CEO Thursday after reports that he had an affair with a suspected Chinese spy.

Senate Banking Committee sets dates

Sen. Tim Scott, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, asked Huang and Lutnick to voluntarily appear before the committee on December third and December tenth respectively.

Scott cites export control role

Scott wrote that Lutnick's testimony will be essential given the Department of Commerce's central role in issuing and enforcing export control regulations.

“Given the Department of Commerce's central role in issuing and enforcing export control regulations, your testimony before the Committee will be essential in our oversight of these efforts.”

Blumenthal warns of subpoena

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Lutnick should appear voluntarily, though if he does not, he may need to be subpoenaed.

Lawmakers question export controls

Blumenthal said he wants to know whether export controls were relaxed. Banks expressed concerns about chips being exported that should not have been.

“Were export controls relaxed?”

Banks cites Trump's export orders

Sen. Jim Banks said he has bipartisan questions about what allowed these issues to continue, noting chips appear to have been exported in defiance of President Trump's orders.

Warren demands loophole closure

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Lutnick needs to explain why export control loopholes have not been closed and act to ensure advanced technology is not fueling China's military.

White House backs Lutnick

The White House defended Lutnick in a statement, saying the president maintains complete confidence in him as the most transformative Commerce Secretary in modern history.

House Democrats demand answers

Reps. Gregory Meeks, Gabe Amo and Sydney Kamlager-Dove signed a letter demanding answers from Lutnick over the Trump administration's approval of advanced AI chip exports and concerning links to China.

Huang to brief House committee

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast said Huang agreed to brief lawmakers in a closed-door, transcribed interview on December first, with a subpoena to be issued if he does not confirm by Friday evening.

Tillis urges faster testimony

Sen. Thom Tillis urged Lutnick to testify before Thanksgiving, saying he should recognize he has Republican support and should lay out the facts while that backing exists.

“Come here before Thanksgiving. Give us the facts.”