Three U.S. House committee chairmen asked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to brief them on company security and reported contacts with a Megaspeed executive, citing China’s access to sensitive U.S. technology.
The Nov. 4 request was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford. They asked Huang to attend a closed-door session Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. EconoTimes previously covered the committee briefing request.
The letter gave Huang until Wednesday, Nov. 11, to accept the date or propose another session day. Whether Huang or Nvidia responded is unverified. The chairmen want to discuss Nvidia’s security protocols and Huang’s reported interactions with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, whom the letter describes as a “publicly reported” People’s Republic of China intelligence asset.
The chairmen say they want Congress to assess whether U.S. national security has been put at risk. They identify China’s access to sensitive U.S. technology and information as a concern.
ABC News reported that Mast was prepared to subpoena Huang if he failed to respond by the Nov. 11 deadline. Moolenaar told Fox Business, “If he doesn’t agree to that or submit an additional date, I believe there will likely be subpoenas for him to appear.” The Nov. 4 document asks Huang to attend a briefing; it does not issue a subpoena.
Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the discussions, that lawmakers were unlikely to accept Nvidia’s general counsel answering for Huang. The letter does not mention an alternate representative, and no formal offer is confirmed.
The New York Times reported that a memo circulated among U.S. policymakers cited intelligence describing Alice Huang as an asset of China’s Ministry of State Security who had been recruited to gather intelligence on Jensen Huang. The committee letter does not include that underlying intelligence.
Reuters has reported that Nvidia’s advanced chips are central to U.S.-China competition over artificial intelligence as Washington seeks to restrict China’s access to them. The chairs requested the briefing for Wednesday, Nov. 18; whether it will take place is unconfirmed.
