WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before the Senate Banking Committee about the Nvidia scandal, his spokesperson said, as reports said senior White House officials were discussing whether he should be pushed out.
“Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the Banking Committee to address their questions,” the spokesperson, Kristen Eichamer, said. The committee’s chairman, Senator Tim Scott, had asked him to appear at a public hearing on December 10 about “recent public reports about Nvidia and the Department of Commerce’s role”.
Scott also asked Jensen Huang, who resigned as Nvidia’s chief executive on Thursday, to testify on December 3. “Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive U.S. technology,” Scott wrote on X. “The American people deserve answers.”
In the House, the chairmen of the foreign affairs, China and intelligence committees asked Huang and Nvidia’s general counsel, Tim Teter, to appear on December 1 and 2, warning of subpoenas if they did not. “There are clear national security concerns that need to be addressed immediately,” Brian Mast, John Moolenaar, and Rick Crawford wrote. Mast has said Huang agreed to brief lawmakers, with the date and format still being negotiated.
Lutnick’s future
Senior White House officials are discussing whether Lutnick should go, two people familiar with the situation said, according to reports on Friday. No successor has been named.
A White House official said earlier that President Donald Trump “maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to carry out the position.” The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports.
Lawmakers from both parties have criticised the department for not adding dozens of Chinese companies to the US trade blacklist, and over its oversight of Nvidia’s exports to China. On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Treasury had favoured blacklisting the chip trader Megaspeed “for months, but Commerce has the pen” (read more).
“Come here before Thanksgiving. Give us the facts,” Senator Thom Tillis said of Lutnick. Senator Richard Blumenthal said he “may need to be subpoenaed” if he did not come voluntarily, while Senator Elizabeth Warren said Lutnick and his under secretary for export controls, Jeffrey Kessler, “must explain why they have not closed export control loopholes.”
Huang quit Nvidia on Thursday after reports of an affair with a woman US authorities reportedly suspect of spying for China. His board named an interim chief executive the same day.
