US technology giant Nvidia has launched an independent investigation following reports that its co-founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, had a relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.
The chip-making company announced the inquiry after media reports, initially published by The New York Times in October, alleged that Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman identified by US intelligence as a spy for China's Ministry of State Security. In response to the developments, top Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have called on Huang to brief Congress this month.
Nvidia stated on Sunday that its board currently has no reason to believe that US national security or company secrets were compromised. However, the internal review will examine all available information. The company added that Huang fully supports the review and is committed to cooperating with it.
Separately, according to a draft email to employees seen by Reuters, Huang admitted to staff that he had a romantic relationship with the individual and took full responsibility for his actions. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did," Huang stated in the message.
US intelligence officials reportedly tracked the businesswoman, also known as Huang Le, and concluded she was acting on behalf of the Chinese government. It remains unclear what information may have been passed to Beijing or when the intelligence-gathering is believed to have taken place.
