Nine takeaways from conviction of Harvard University chemist for lying about ties to China

Last week, Harvard University chemist Charles Lieber became the first academic scientist targeted by the U.S. government’s controversial 3-year-old China Initiative to be found guilty by a jury. He may also be one of the last, says Andrew Lelling, the former U.S. attorney who charged Lieber nearly 2 years ago with lying about his research ties to China.

Under the China Initiative, the government has prosecuted some two dozen academic scientists it says abetted Chinese attempts to steal U.S.-funded technology by not disclosing their ties to research programs funded by the Chinese government. Proponents say the campaign helps maintain U.S. preeminence in science, whereas critics say it has criminalized bookkeeping mistakes by otherwise blameless academic researchers.

Now in private practice at Jones Day, Lelling still defends the initiative. But he thinks the Department of Justice (DOJ) will “raise the bar” for prosecuting cases. And he predicts that new approach, combined with increased doubts among defense attorneys that a jury will acquit their clients, may prompt five scientists now awaiting trial (see table, below) to negotiate a plea bargain rather than risk an adverse verdict.