US Senate Banking Committee chairman Tim Scott warned he could subpoena Jensen Huang if he declined to appear voluntarily, saying the American people deserved answers. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: US Senate Banking Committee chairman Tim Scott sent letters on Thursday to commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and Nvidia's former CEO Jensen Huang asking them to testify over recent developments at the company.

Huang stepped down from Nvidia, one of the major engines behind the AI boom, after reports of a romantic relationship with a businesswoman named Alice Huang whom US authorities suspect of spying for the Chinese government.

In addition, a growing number of lawmakers have criticised Lutnick for the administration's refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key US trade blacklist and over whether the government was properly overseeing Nvidia's exports to China.