House Republicans warned on Wednesday that they are prepared to subpoena Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang if he refuses to appear for a closed-door briefing about his alleged relationship with a Chinese spy. The warning came as a 5 p.m. deadline set by two House chairmen passed with no word from Nvidia on whether Huang would attend the November 18 briefing, the day after the company reports earnings.

Key Points

• House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast is open to subpoenaing Huang if he does not respond, his spokesperson said.
• House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar gave Huang until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 11, to agree to a briefing or propose another date, or face subpoenas.
• Mast, Moolenaar and Representative Rick Crawford invited Huang on November 4 to a joint briefing on November 18, after a New York Times report alleged his close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing.
• Huang told Nvidia employees on November 8 he had been "unfaithful to his wife", and the board hired former acting US Attorney Joon Kim to lead an independent investigation.
• The Information reported the affair facilitated shipments of at least $7.5 billion in Nvidia chips to Chinese firms; shareholders sued on November 9, and Senator Kevin Cramer called for Huang's resignation.

What Happened

A person familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Wednesday that House Republicans are unlikely to let Huang send the company's general counsel to answer questions on his behalf. The committees want to hear from Huang himself about the alleged relationship and what it meant for the flow of Nvidia's advanced chips to China.

Mast, Moolenaar and Crawford sent their invitation on November 4, asking Huang to attend a closed-door joint briefing on November 18, the day after Nvidia reports earnings. By Wednesday afternoon, Nvidia had not publicly said whether he would attend, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters. Moolenaar, on Fox Business, said: "If he doesn't agree to that or submit an additional date, I believe there will likely be subpoenas for him to appear." A spokesperson for Mast confirmed he is open to issuing a subpoena if Huang does not respond.

Background: How the Huang Spy Allegations Unfolded

The controversy began with a New York Times report alleging that Huang, 63, had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing. She was later identified as Alice Huang, an executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data company that has become one of the largest buyers of Nvidia chips in Asia. US intelligence officials believe she works for Chinese intelligence; Megaspeed denies wrongdoing and China calls the claims "groundless speculation".

On November 8, Huang told Nvidia employees in a letter that he had been "unfaithful to his wife", without giving details. The same day, the board announced an independent investigation led by Joon Kim, a Wachtell Lipton partner and former acting US Attorney, saying it had "no reason to believe" national security or company secrets were compromised. Since then, The Information reported the affair facilitated at least $7.5 billion in chip shipments to Chinese firms, shareholders filed a class action, Cramer called for Huang's resignation, and Democrats called for investigations or testimony. President Donald Trump has stood by Huang, calling him an "amazing guy" and an "honorable man", and the FBI is also examining the matter. See our report on Nvidia's board launching its probe of Huang and on President Trump backing Huang.

The Jensen Huang Subpoena Threat and the Wednesday Deadline

A subpoena would compel Huang to appear and answer questions under oath, removing the option of sending a lawyer in his place. Congress rarely uses the tool against the chief executive of a major American company, and the threat alone shows how seriously the chairmen view the allegations — and how frustrated they are by the lack of a response.

But the clock is working against the Republicans. They lose control of House committees in January, when Democrats take over after winning the House in the November 3 midterm elections. A subpoena issued now would probably lapse when the new Congress is seated and would need to be reissued by Democrats, ABC News has reported — giving the chairmen only a narrow window, and giving Huang reason to wait them out.

Reactions and Quotes

Moolenaar's warning was the sharpest public statement yet from either chairman, framing the deadline as a final chance to cooperate voluntarily. Mast's office backed him, saying the Foreign Affairs chairman is open to a subpoena — a step that would turn a private invitation into a formal legal demand. Huang's own words have been limited to his November 8 letter, in which he said he had been "unfaithful to his wife" and apologised for violating his family's and his employees' trust. He has not publicly addressed the spy allegations. Trump has defended him, while Cramer has called for his resignation.

Why It Matters

Nvidia's chips power the artificial intelligence systems at the centre of the US-China technology rivalry, and US export controls on those chips are among the most sensitive tools in American foreign policy. If a close associate of the chief executive was passing information to Beijing — and if that relationship helped move billions of dollars of chips to Chinese firms — the questions go far beyond one man's private life. The episode also tests oversight in a lame-duck session: Republicans want the record to show they pressed the issue, and Democrats will inherit the question. See our report on shareholders suing Nvidia and Huang as the FBI probes the affair.

What Happens Next

All eyes are on November 17 and 18. Nvidia reports third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, November 17, when Huang is expected to face analysts' questions about the investigation and the chip-shipment reports. The closed-door briefing is scheduled for the following day — if Huang agrees to attend, or if a subpoena forces him to. The board's investigation, led by Joon Kim, continues in parallel and could determine whether Huang keeps his job. If Huang does not respond, the chairmen must decide whether to issue subpoenas before January — or leave the matter for their successors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do House Republicans want to subpoena Jensen Huang?
They want Huang himself, not Nvidia's general counsel, to answer questions about his alleged relationship with a Chinese businesswoman US intelligence officials believe works for Chinese intelligence, and whether the affair facilitated chip shipments to China.

What was the deadline?
Moolenaar gave Huang until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 11, to agree to the briefing or propose another date, warning subpoenas would likely follow.

When is the briefing scheduled?
November 18, the day after Nvidia reports earnings on November 17. It was requested on November 4 by Mast, Moolenaar and Crawford.

What has Huang said?
On November 8 he told Nvidia employees he had been "unfaithful to his wife". He has not publicly addressed the spy allegations.

Would a subpoena survive into the next Congress?
Probably not. Republicans lose control of House committees in January, so a subpoena issued now would likely lapse and need reissuing by Democrats, ABC News has reported.