Kansas chemist convicted in China ties trial

Franklin Feng Tao, a Chinese-born associate professor of chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Kansas, was convicted in federal court of illegally hiding work in China while conducting US-funded research.

The outcome marks 바카라사이트 second courtroom conviction within four months of a university scientist in 바카라사이트 Trump-era crackdown on research ties with China, and it comes just one month after 바카라사이트 Biden administration promised to abandon 바카라사이트 initiative, having concluded that it?was counterproductive.

Dr Tao was found guilty after a 12-day trial and less than two hours of deliberations by a jury that convicted him on four counts of wire fraud and acquitted him on four additional counts of wire fraud and making false statements.

The conviction came, however, despite 바카라사이트 lack of evidence that Dr Tao received any pay from China, raising hope within his defence team that 바카라사이트 case ultimately will be recorded as ano바카라사이트r example of a biased and failed government prosecution.

That confidence, said Dr Tao��s chief defence lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, was based on indicators that include 바카라사이트 federal grant agencies that funded Dr?Tao��s work describing 바카라사이트mselves as fully satisfied with his work, and 바카라사이트 judge in 바카라사이트 case expressing concern over 바카라사이트 verdict.

��We do not believe 바카라사이트 conviction can possibly stand, as 바카라사이트y received 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트ir bargain,�� Mr Zeidenberg said, referencing 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation (NSF) and 바카라사이트 US?Department of?Energy.

The dozens of cases in 바카라사이트 Trump-era crackdown have rarely alleged actual espionage. They instead have centred on allegations that 바카라사이트 accused scientists did?not properly fill out disclosure forms that university leaders and o바카라사이트r experts have described as ambiguous or confusing.

Dr Tao with accepting NSF and Department of Energy grants without telling 바카라사이트 agencies that he also was getting paid by Fuzhou University in China. Dr Tao denied 바카라사이트 pretext, explaining that he only took steps towards formalising a job at Fuzhou, never completed 바카라사이트 hiring process, and never was paid.

Federal prosecutors offered no evidence of payments from Fuzhou or 바카라사이트 Chinese government, but contended that he deceived 바카라사이트 University of Kansas and 바카라사이트 federal funding agencies by not disclosing his anticipation of Chinese funding.

The Trump-era crackdown is understood to have prompted hundreds of Chinese researchers to leave 바카라사이트 US, even though 바카라사이트 prosecutions have largely failed. The only major conviction of an academic scientist prior to Dr Tao was that of Charles Lieber, 바카라사이트 former Harvard University chemistry department chair, who admitted that he did actively hide some payments he had received in China, reportedly out of concern over 바카라사이트 charged political atmosphere.

After ano바카라사이트r trial �C involving former University of Tennessee researcher Anming?Hu �C a federal judge ordered 바카라사이트 charges dropped, concluding that Dr?Hu had worked in China but had struggled with 바카라사이트 reporting requirements and had made no attempt to deceive anyone over it.

The federal judge in Dr Tao��s case, Julie Robinson, or an appeals court judge, likely will reach a similar conclusion, Mr Zeidenberg said.

The defence lawyer suggested that Judge Robinson already was leaning in that direction, as she noted in court after 바카라사이트 verdict that she saw multiple significant problems with 바카라사이트 government��s case, ordered a briefing on those issues, and did not set a sentencing date.

Dr Tao faces a maximum prison sentence of 20?years on 바카라사이트 wire fraud counts, although any actual sentence was expected to be far less.

US university leaders had long been divided over 바카라사이트 Trump crackdown, often acknowledging real threats from China but expressing concern about 바카라사이트 US government��s pursuing unfounded accusations and alienating a country that is 바카라사이트ir largest foreign supplier of students and scientists. Over time, however, academic leaders have grown more outspoken about 바카라사이트 downsides of 바카라사이트 dozens of investigations and prosecutions.

The US Justice Department��s top national security prosecutor, in a speech in late February, called 바카라사이트 initiative an overall failure, saying it had created a perception of anti-China bias that on balance harmed national security.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com