The chip executive who draws the most attention in the industry is now drawing Congress's attention too. House Republicans want Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to personally answer questions about his alleged relationship with a woman who is reportedly working for Chinese intelligence.
Huang has offered to send Nvidia's general counsel in his place, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the discussions. Lawmakers do not appear satisfied with that. They may issue a subpoena if he does not testify himself.
What lawmakers are asking for
On November 4, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast and two other senior Republican lawmakers wrote to Huang. They requested a closed-door briefing.
The request calls for Huang to deliver that briefing by November 18, 2026. Lawmakers have also signaled that if he fails to comply or respond adequately by November 11, a subpoena could follow.
Offering the general counsel is a familiar move for companies facing scrutiny. It allows executives to answer questions through a professional who knows precisely what to avoid saying. Lawmakers, however, generally prefer hearing from the person at the center of the allegations.
The allegations behind the request
The scrutiny traces back to an October 2026 report from The New York Times. The paper alleged that Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing.
The woman was identified as Alice Huang, a former executive at a company called Megaspeed. The Times report described her as an asset of China's Ministry of State Security, the country's main civilian intelligence agency.
The Megaspeed link is significant for a specific reason. According to the research findings, the company spent approximately $4.8 billion on Nvidia chips over two years. That makes it a substantial customer rather than a casual acquaintance.
None of these allegations have been proven. Huang has not been charged with anything, and the Times report describes an alleged relationship, not established wrongdoing on his part.
Nvidia's response and the market reaction
Nvidia's board launched an independent internal investigation on November 8. The board emphasized its commitment to national security.
The board also said it has found no evidence that any information was compromised.
Investors did not wait for the outcome of either process. Nvidia shares fell more than 5% after the allegations surfaced.
The decline reportedly wiped out $17 billion from Huang's personal stake.
Why Washington is paying attention
Nvidia sits at the center of the global race for artificial intelligence hardware. Its chips power the data centers that train the most advanced AI models, which many in Washington see as making the company a national security asset.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, which Mast chairs, has broad interest in how sensitive American technology reaches foreign governments. A reported connection between Nvidia's leadership and an alleged Ministry of State Security asset falls squarely within that territory.
What this means
For investors, the immediate question is whether this remains a reputational story or becomes a regulatory one. A closed-door briefing is manageable. A subpoena, public testimony or findings of misconduct would be a different matter.
The Megaspeed figure is worth watching closely. A customer that spent approximately $4.8 billion on Nvidia chips in two years is the kind of relationship congressional investigators are likely to want to understand in detail.
Nvidia's internal investigation adds another variable. The board has already said it found no evidence of compromised information. If the final review holds that position and lawmakers find it credible, the story could fade.
The dates to note are November 11, the deadline lawmakers set for an adequate response, and November 18, when they want the briefing completed.
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