Howard Lutnick will testify as bipartisan pressure grows over Nvidia scandal

Detailed summary

Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who was also requested to testify, had previously praised the commerce secretary for his support and involvement in the industry.

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

The announcement comes after Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chair of the Senate Banking Committee, sent letters Thursday to Lutnick and Jensen Huang, who resigned as Nvidia’s CEO earlier in the day after reports that he had an affair with a suspected Chinese spy.

“Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the Banking Committee to address their questions,” Kristen Eichamer, a spokesperson for Lutnick, told NBC News.

In the letters, Scott asked that Huang and Lutnick voluntarily appear before the Senate Banking Committee to testify on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, respectively.

Scott requested that Lutnick testify “for a public hearing regarding recent public reports about Nvidia and the Department of Commerce’s role that raises national security concerns.”

“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,” Scott wrote.

Representatives for Huang did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Scott’s letter.

Earlier Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters that Lutnick should appear voluntarily, though if he doesn’t, “He may need to be subpoenaed.”

Blumenthal said one thing he wants to know is, “Were export controls relaxed?”

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