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A year later, Chen was arrested on suspicion of federal grant fraud and was publicly charged with disloyalty to the United States—a charge typically brought in espionage cases, not fraud, as Chen’s defense team noted in their report. attempt To impose formal sanctions on the US Attorney’s Office for disclosure. Chen was ultimately charged three times with electronic fraud, false statements and failure to report to a foreign bank account.
But the crux of the case was whether the nanotechnologist disclosed contracts, assignments and awards received from organizations in the People’s Republic of China, including the Chinese talent program and more than $19 million in funding from the Chinese government. Ministry of Energy.
That question became less important in 2017 when a Department of Energy official confirmed the grant requirements that Chen submitted. His filing did not stipulate that he must disclose shipments in China, but that disclosure would not affect his grants, as the Wall Street Journal did. first reported.
The money at the center of the fraud allegations—$25 million—was for MIT to support a new joint research center at China’s Southern University of Science and Technology, not Chen’s individual. “While Professor Chen is the inaugural director of the MIT faculty, this is not an individual collaboration; It is a department supported by the Institute,” explained MIT President Raphael Reif. letter to the MIT community last year.
As one of the foremost scientists commissioned under the initiative, Chen’s case received widespread attention. MIT faculty wrote an article. open letter Supporting academics, which also reflects the broader concerns of the academic community regarding the decriminalization of standard academic activity. “In many ways, the complaint against Gang Chen is a complaint against all of us, an insult to any citizen who values science and scientific enterprise,” they wrote.
What’s next?
With Chen’s charges being almost completely dismissed, six more research integrity cases are pending. The four of them will appear in court this spring. Meanwhile, scientific societies, civil rights organizations, lawmakers and even former officials involved in shaping the program they are calling for either the termination of the program or at least the targeting of academics.
Ministry spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said the Department of Justice was “reviewing our approach to countering the threats posed by the PRC government”. MIT Technology Review in an email. “We hope to complete the review and provide additional information in the coming weeks.” He directed questions about Chen’s case to the US Attorney’s Office in Boston, which has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, on January 4, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released. updated guidance On strengthening protections for American research and development against foreign interference, including additional details on disclosure requirements for chief investigators.
As for Chen, his lawyer, Robert Fischer, told MIT Technology Review, “He looks forward to resolving the criminal matter as soon as possible.”
Additional reporting by Jess Aloe.
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