House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas, stated on Sunday that it is premature to place the blame for recent export control delays on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Crawford made these remarks following public comments by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who expressed frustration with the Commerce Department's handling of cases involving companies suspected of illegally funneling Nvidia chips to China.
Speaking on NewsNation’s 'The Hill Sunday,' Crawford emphasized the need for a clearer understanding of the events before assigning responsibility. He described the current timing as a little premature for placing blame and noted that the committee wants to ensure they have a better grasp of exactly what occurred during the review process.
Crawford indicated that he and Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut and the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, have requested a meeting with Lutnick on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the Commerce Secretary to explain his department’s actions directly to lawmakers. Crawford expressed confidence that Lutnick will attend and provide insights into the ongoing situation.
The comments come in the midst of a significant scandal involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Huang recently resigned from his position after an alleged affair with a woman who is suspected by U.S. intelligence of being a Chinese spy. This development has heightened scrutiny over the administration's oversight of semiconductor exports.
Treasury Secretary Bessent voiced his dissatisfaction on Friday regarding the delay in placing export restrictions on Megaspeed International. The Singapore-based company was formerly led by Alice Huang, who is suspected of spying for China. Bessent noted that his department, along with the State Department, the Defense Department, and the U.S. Trade Representative, had supported adding Megaspeed to a federal export control list for some time, but Commerce had not taken action.
In an interview with CNBC, Bessent highlighted that the Commerce Department holds the authority to act on these restrictions. He stated, 'Commerce has the pen, and you will have to ask them about their internal processes.' Bessent added that his deputy had been pushing for the move for months without resolution.
When asked if Bessent's comments pointed the finger directly at Lutnick, Crawford declined to draw firm conclusions. He maintained that the committee should hear directly from the Commerce Secretary before making definitive judgments about the internal processes and decision-making timeline.
Separately, investigations into the administration's export policies have expanded. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, and Rep. Richard Neal, a Democrat from Massachusetts, launched an investigation on Thursday. They are the top Democrats on the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees, respectively.
The bipartisan group is examining President Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia to sell its powerful H200 chips to China. Lawmakers have demanded that Lutnick preserve all records related to this decision. This move has raised concerns among some members of Congress about whether political considerations influenced the administration's approach to export controls.
The situation has become a focal point for congressional oversight, with both parties seeking answers about the coordination between various government agencies and the role of political influence in high-stakes technology trade decisions.
