Congress to call Jensen Huang in to answer for alleged Chinese spy affair

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has until the end of the day Wednesday to accept a closed-door briefing request from House Republicans or likely face a subpoena, Bloomberg reports, citing two members of the House. The move escalates a week-old effort by the lawmakers over Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive suspected of being a Chinese spy.

Representatives Brian Mast, John Moolenaar, and Rick Crawford first sent Huang a letter asking him to appear before their committees for a joint, closed-door briefing about his relations with Alice Huang. Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said Wednesday on Fox Business that Huang has until day's end to respond to the request, and that a subpoena would likely follow if he refuses.

Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that his committee is preparing its own subpoena for Huang to send if he does not respond to the letter.

The episode puts one of the AI industry's most prominent figures under congressional scrutiny over personal ties connected to a suspected foreign intelligence operative, at a time when chipmakers and their China dealings are already a focus of U.S. lawmakers.

Bloomberg's report, attributed to two House Republicans, indicates Congress is actively preparing the subpoena paperwork rather than merely signaling intent.