(Reuters) – Prosecutors have recommended the U.S. Justice Department drop charges against a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor charged with concealing his ties to China when seeking federal grant money, an individual familiar with the problem said Friday.
Federal prosecutors in Boston decided to seek dismissal from the case against Chinese-born mechanical engineer and nanotechnologist Gang Chen. It had been the most recent setback for any crackdown on Chinese influence within U.S. research.
He was accused of neglecting to disclose, amongst other things, he served being an “overseas expert” to the Chinese government and sat around the advisory board of Shenzhen’s Southern University of Science when trying to get a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
“However, the fact is, nothing significant was omitted on his application and many from the government’s allegations were simply wrong,” Brian Kelly, an attorney for Mr. Chen at Nixon Peabody, said a week ago.
He and co-counsel Rob Fisher didn't have discuss Friday.
Boston prosecutors settled on recommending the case’s dismissal in recent weeks based on new information, the person said, adding the Justice Department hasn't designed a final decision.
Wyn Hornbuckle, a Justice Department spokesperson, had no comment on Mr. Chen’s case but said the department was reviewing its overall approach to countering threats resulting from China.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the recommendation.
Mr. Chen was charged this past year included in the department’s “China Initiative,” launched during former President Donald Trump’s administration to counter suspected Chinese economic espionage and research theft.
Targets included university researchers. A Harvard professor, Charles Lieber, last month was found guilty of lying about his ties to a China-run recruitment program. He is expected to appeal.
Critics say the initiative chilled academic research and targeted Chinese researchers through racial profiling. And despite the Harvard win, several other cases have faltered.
A Tennessee professor was acquitted by a judge last year carrying out a mistrial, and prosecutors dropped charges against six other researchers.
