Sen. Tim Scott, the South Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, sent letters on Thursday, Nov. 12, asking Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify voluntarily before the committee, NBC News reported. The letters ask Huang to appear on Dec. 3 and Lutnick on Dec. 10, according to NBC News and Reuters.

Lutnick's spokesperson said that the commerce secretary "has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the Banking Committee," NBC News reported.

Scott's letters went out on the same day that Nvidia announced Huang had resigned as its president, chief executive and a director, effective immediately, after the board accepted his resignation on Nov. 11, according to the company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The House request

In the House, Rep. Brian Mast, the Florida Republican who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, has asked Huang to appear on Dec. 1 for a closed-door transcribed interview, NBC News reported. Mast said a subpoena would be issued if Huang did not confirm by Friday evening, Nov. 13, according to NBC News. Mast also said Huang had agreed to brief lawmakers, with the date and venue still under negotiation.

Three top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Reps. Meeks, Amo and Kamlager-Dove, signed a letter on Monday, Nov. 9, demanding answers about the approval of advanced AI chip exports, NBC News reported.

Senators on Lutnick

Senators from both parties have said the commerce secretary should answer questions. Sen. Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said that Lutnick may need to be subpoenaed if he does not appear, according to NBC News, and Sen. Banks of Indiana and Sen. Cramer of North Dakota, both Republicans, said Lutnick should testify.

The background

The congressional requests follow a sequence that began five days earlier. On Nov. 8, Nvidia's board said it had begun an independent investigation after reporting that Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort, Reuters reported. Huang has admitted to an extramarital affair without naming the person, according to Reuters, which cited reports that the affair was with an executive at a Singapore-based tech company whom U.S. authorities suspect of spying for Beijing. Nvidia's statement on Nov. 12 did not address Huang's conduct, Reuters reported.

Nvidia has said it complies with U.S. rules, NBC News reported.

Lawmakers of both parties are pushing for tougher restrictions on China's access to advanced AI chips, Reuters reported in an explainer published on Nov. 12.

The company and the market

Nvidia named Colette Kress, its chief financial officer since 2013, as interim chief executive on Nov. 12, and the board began a search for a permanent successor, according to the filing. President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said former Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook should take the helm, writing, "A Legend replaces a Legend!" The Block reported.

Nvidia shares closed down 4.3 percent on Thursday, Nov. 12, after falling nearly 12 percent earlier in the session, Reuters reported. On the same day, shares of Chinese tech companies that use Nvidia chips fell, with Alibaba down 7.1 percent in U.S. trading, according to Reuters.

The calendar now runs through early December. Mast's Friday-evening deadline comes first, on Nov. 13; the House interview he has requested would follow on Dec. 1; and the Senate Banking Committee has asked for Huang on Dec. 3 and for Lutnick, who has agreed to appear, on Dec. 10.