Huida CEO Jensen Huang has been embroiled in sex scandals and espionage accusations one after another. Many members of the U.S. Congress are calling on Huang to resign as CEO of Huida. North Dakota Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, a member of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, reiterated his call for Huang's resignation on Wednesday (11th). A key Democratic member of the House Oversight Committee and a Republican congressman also joined the call for resignation.
"CNBC" reported that Cramer said in an interview: "As far as his (Huang Renxun's) own conscience is concerned, he should resign." Cramer made the remarks after the extramarital affair between Huang Renxun and Huang Le, a woman suspected of spying for China, was exposed.
Huang Jen-Hsun admitted on Sunday (7th) that he had had an extramarital affair with a woman, and multiple news media reported that U.S. intelligence agencies identified the woman as a Chinese spy. The news has sent shockwaves through Washington, with many members of Congress now worried that the U.S.’s dominance in the field of artificial intelligence may be at risk.
When talking about Huang Le and Huang Renxun, Cramer said: "What concerns me most about this matter is that we don't know what information Huang Le has about Huang Renxun, and this information may be used." He went on to say: "This person (Huang Renxun) is currently extremely vulnerable to blackmail and coercion. I think from a national security perspective, we cannot take this risk."
Cramer's remarks coincided with the deadline set by three U.S. representatives, who asked Huang to testify before his committee on November 18.
Republican Representatives Brian Mast (Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), John Moolenaar (Chairman of the House Special Committee on China), and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford issued a letter on November 4 requesting Huang to attend the testimony. Members of the majority party in Congress also have the power of subpoena, and if they decide to exercise it, they can require Huang to attend.
Mast and Mullenar told reporters Wednesday afternoon that they had not yet received a response from Huang and said they would give him time until the end of the day to respond. Asked by reporters if the committee would consider subpoenaing Huang if he did not agree to attend, Mast replied: "Yes."
When asked the same question, Mullenar said: "These three committees all have subpoena power, and I know that these three committees attach great importance to finding out the truth of the entire incident and ensuring that relevant information is open and transparent." Mullenard emphasized: "We will continue to pursue this matter."
With the Democratic Party expected to take over both houses of Congress in January next year, relevant scrutiny is expected to only become more stringent. Huang Renxun had a close relationship with US President Trump during his second term. In May this year, he even traveled to China with Trump on Air Force One.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Virginia, is a member of the House Oversight Committee and the ranking Democratic member of the committee's Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. In an interview with "CNBC", he said: "Huang Renxun should resign as CEO of Huida."
Subramaniam said: "I originally disagreed with his (Huang Jensen) statement that exporting chips to China had no negative consequences. But it never occurred to me that he might have had an extramarital affair with a Chinese spy who also helped smuggle chips into China at an alarming rate."
Subramaniam also warned that Huida's next actions and whether Huang continues to be at the helm of the company may affect Huida's relationship with the Washington authorities and may also influence whether Congress takes stricter crackdowns.
Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, also said that Huang should step down, but Bacon has announced that he will retire at the end of this congressional term. When "CNBC" asked Bacon whether Huang should resign, Bacon said: "From what I understand so far, yes. I mean, he has allowed himself to be controlled by the Chinese government. That is not a good thing."
Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Indiana Republican Senator Jim Banks issued a statement after Huang's extramarital affair was exposed, calling on their colleagues to include the "AI Oversight Act" in the National Defense Authorization Act. Warren, who will take over as chair of the Senate Banking Committee, co-sponsored the bill on the Senate floor with Banks.
The two senators said: "Huang's confirmation of a relationship with an alleged spy working for Chinese intelligence agencies makes these national security concerns more urgent and requires Huida to answer important questions, including the extent to which these activities are related to the company. It is time for Congress to take decisive action and pass important legislation such as the AI Oversight Act in the National Defense Authorization Act to cut off China's access to advanced chips."
