US lawmakers summon Jensen Huang to testify over China spy links

Nvidia ex- CEOJensen Huang. Photo: Wikimedia commons

IBNS-CMEDIA: US lawmakers have summoned former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to testify before Congress in December, citing national security concerns following reports of his alleged links to a suspected Chinese spy.

Republican Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said Thursday that Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would be called to testify before the panel.

“Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive US technology,” Scott wrote on X.

Separately, three US House committees have summoned the 63-year-old billionaire for a closed-door, transcribed interview scheduled for December 1.

The inquiry is expected to focus on concerns surrounding sensitive American technology and potential links to China.

Two alleged affairs put Nvidia ex-chief under scrutiny

Huang’s sudden departure came amid reports of two extramarital affairs, including one involving Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed.

On Sunday, Huang, who has been married to his wife Lori for more than four decades, reportedly admitted to having an affair with Alice Huang.

Three days later, The New York Times reported on a second alleged relationship, citing a video that allegedly showed Huang being affectionate with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.

The reports have intensified scrutiny of the former chief executive, with particular attention on possible national security implications arising from his alleged associations.

Nvidia shares slide amid leadership crisis

Nvidia shares fell 4.3 per cent on Thursday following the developments, although the stock recovered significantly from an opening decline of nearly 14 per cent.

The chipmaker’s shares have faced pressure in recent weeks amid the controversy and growing concerns over a potential bubble in the artificial intelligence sector.

Despite the turbulence, Nvidia remains valued at approximately $4 trillion and continues to be one of the biggest players in the global technology industry.

Meanwhile, rival chipmakers, including Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom, have witnessed sharp movements in their share prices as the crisis unfolded.