📢 Flash
Nvidia Was Aware Early On That Huang Le Was Under Investigation; Its Legal Executive Directly Contacted the U.S. Department of Commerce, After Which the Investigation Was Restricted
Beating AI flash news disclosure: In early 2025, NVIDIA learned that Huang Le had been detained by Singaporean police and proactively contacted senior officials at the United States Department of Commerce to inquire about the matter. Weeks later, U.S. officials responsible for investigating whether Megaspeed—a company linked to Huang Le—had smuggled NVIDIA AI chips began facing strict operational constraints. By year-end, the Department of Commerce formally received instructions to terminate its investigation and transfer criminal investigation responsibilities to the United States Department of Justice.
Specifically, in late summer 2025, NVIDIA’s General Counsel Tim Teter directly called Jeffrey Kessler, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, to ask whether the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) had participated in Singaporean police actions regarding Huang Le’s detention. At that time, Huang Le had already been interrogated by Singaporean police and barred from leaving the country, while BIS simultaneously launched an investigation into whether Megaspeed had violated regulations by improperly transferring NVIDIA AI chips.
Within weeks of that call, BIS investigators received new directives: any contact with NVIDIA required prior approval from Kessler himself or his direct authorization; during external investigative activities, they were explicitly prohibited from mentioning either Megaspeed or its Malaysian subsidiary.
Subsequently, Teter requested an in-person meeting with frontline investigators, but was refused. He then cited Kessler as his basis, claiming he had obtained Kessler’s permission and questioned the rationale for the refusal. Concerned that NVIDIA might use high-level connections to interfere with the investigation process, the investigators forwarded the email correspondence to Kessler, who neither instructed his subordinates to cooperate with NVIDIA nor provided further guidance—responding only with “strictly follow established procedures.”
According to individuals involved in the investigation, BIS had already gathered key evidence sufficient to support a deepened probe by the time of the handover—but was forced to halt all work. Some officials noted that the abrupt transfer of this case to the Department of Justice, despite ample evidence, constituted an abnormal procedural step.
NVIDIA responded that its outreach to the United States Department of Commerce aimed to provide information, clarify regulatory boundaries, and jointly curb illegal chip transfers. Legal head Teter stated that when he became involved in late summer 2025, he was unaware of the extramarital relationship between Jensen Huang and Huang Le.
Specifically, in late summer 2025, NVIDIA’s General Counsel Tim Teter directly called Jeffrey Kessler, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, to ask whether the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) had participated in Singaporean police actions regarding Huang Le’s detention. At that time, Huang Le had already been interrogated by Singaporean police and barred from leaving the country, while BIS simultaneously launched an investigation into whether Megaspeed had violated regulations by improperly transferring NVIDIA AI chips.
Within weeks of that call, BIS investigators received new directives: any contact with NVIDIA required prior approval from Kessler himself or his direct authorization; during external investigative activities, they were explicitly prohibited from mentioning either Megaspeed or its Malaysian subsidiary.
Subsequently, Teter requested an in-person meeting with frontline investigators, but was refused. He then cited Kessler as his basis, claiming he had obtained Kessler’s permission and questioned the rationale for the refusal. Concerned that NVIDIA might use high-level connections to interfere with the investigation process, the investigators forwarded the email correspondence to Kessler, who neither instructed his subordinates to cooperate with NVIDIA nor provided further guidance—responding only with “strictly follow established procedures.”
According to individuals involved in the investigation, BIS had already gathered key evidence sufficient to support a deepened probe by the time of the handover—but was forced to halt all work. Some officials noted that the abrupt transfer of this case to the Department of Justice, despite ample evidence, constituted an abnormal procedural step.
NVIDIA responded that its outreach to the United States Department of Commerce aimed to provide information, clarify regulatory boundaries, and jointly curb illegal chip transfers. Legal head Teter stated that when he became involved in late summer 2025, he was unaware of the extramarital relationship between Jensen Huang and Huang Le.
