Nvidia hires Wachtell Lipton for Jensen Huang investigation

Nvidia hired law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead an investigation into reports that CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang was the target of a Chinese intelligence operation.

Law firm partner Joon H. Kim will lead the probe. Kim, a former acting attorney of the Southern District of New York, was appointed in 2021 as an independent investigator by New York Attorney General Letitia James to probe allegations of sexual harassment by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The company's board of directors on Sunday launched an independent investigation into Jensen Huang following reports of his romantic relationship with former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, an alleged Chinese spy. The board said that Jensen Huang supports the review.

Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang was first brought to light in an October New York Times report, which alleged the businesswoman had ties to Chinese intelligence. Officials suspected Alice Huang helped funnel advanced Nvidia chips to China, according to the report.

Jensen Huang in a message to the company Sunday admitted to an affair and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. He did not mention Alice Huang by name.