Senate Banking chair calls Jensen Huang, Commerce Secretary Lutnick to testify, threatens subpoenas

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has asked former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before his committee. In letters sent Nov 12, Scott asked Huang to appear on Dec 3 and Lutnick on Dec 10, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. The requests are voluntary, but the letters warn that "should you fail to appear before the Committee on a voluntary basis, the Committee is prepared to use all tools at our disposal, including subpoenas." "Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive US technology," Scott wrote on X.

Huang resigned on Nov 12 after admitting an affair with a woman US authorities suspect of spying for China. Lutnick, who oversees US export controls, faces criticism from lawmakers over whether his department properly policed Nvidia's chip exports to China and over the administration's refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a trade blacklist. Senior White House officials are separately discussing whether Lutnick should be pushed out, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, while Bloomberg said President Donald Trump gave him a vote of confidence hours after Huang's resignation. In the House, three committee chairs including Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast demanded closed-door transcribed interviews with Huang on Dec 1 and Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter on Dec 2. China has denied the spying allegation, and Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Nov 12 the Justice Department has not reached a conclusion.