Senators urge Trump team to preserve Nvidia export records
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons asked the Trump administration to preserve all records tied to Nvidia's chip exports to China as scrutiny of CEO Jensen Huang grows.
Senators demand the records be kept
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons asked the Trump administration to preserve all documents tied to Nvidia's chip exports to China, amid growing scrutiny of chief executive Jensen Huang's relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, Reuters reported.
The senators sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, asking them to confirm by Tuesday that they had directed staff to keep all communications, records and other materials.
What the letter covers
Warren and Coons asked for all security and intelligence materials involving the suspected Chinese intelligence operation and Huang, communications between Nvidia and the administration, including interactions between Huang and President Donald Trump, and documents related to chip export control policy.
"This incident raises significant concerns about the federal government's ability to effectively enforce our export controls and protect our national security," the senators wrote in the letter.
Why Congress is moving now
The controversy escalated this week as reports emerged that Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a business executive U.S. intelligence officials believe is a Chinese spy, aided at least $7.5 billion in Nvidia chip shipments to Chinese firms. Rubio had previously briefed Trump on the affair, according to Reuters.
Warren and Coons, the incoming heads of the Senate Banking and Foreign Relations committees, also requested a congressional briefing on the national security risks posed by the suspected intelligence operation. Preservation letters are often an initial step before formal congressional investigations.
- Chips reportedly sent to China$7.5 billion
- Confirmation deadlineTuesday
- Senate committees behind the pushBanking and Foreign Relations
Board decision still pending
The letter comes as Nvidia's board met late Wednesday to decide whether to oust Huang, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the board was preparing to force him out. Nvidia shares fell more than 8% in after-hours trading.
Many of Nvidia's most advanced chips are subject to U.S. export restrictions designed to protect the country's lead in artificial intelligence. The senators' push adds to pressure from both parties for tighter controls on advanced chip exports to China.
