In a highly watched case coming from a crackdown on Chinese influence in American research, a Harvard University professor was convicted Tuesday of lying to the United States government about his connections to a China-run recruitment operation.
Charles Lieber, 62, a renowned nanoscientist and former chairman of Harvard's chemistry department, was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston of making false statements to authorities, filing fake tax forms, and failing to disclose a Chinese bank account.
Prosecutors stated that Lieber volunteered to work as a "strategic scientist" at Wuhan University of Technology in China in 2011 as part of a Chinese recruitment campaign known as the Thousand Talents Program.
Prosecutors allege that China employs that initiative to recruit international researchers interested in sharing their expertise with the country. While participation is not illegal, prosecutors allege that Lieber lied to authorities when they inquired about his role.
Marc Mukasey, the defense attorney, contended that prosecutors "mangled" evidence, lacked critical papers to substantiate their charges, and relied excessively on a "confused" Federal Bureau of Investigation interview with the scientist following his arrest.
Following the court ruling, Mukasey said they accept the decision and "intend to fight."
Lieber was accused in January last year as part of the U.S. Department of Justice's "China Initiative," which was started during the administration of former President Donald Trump to combat suspected Chinese commercial espionage and research theft.
The project has been continued by President Joe Biden's administration, however the DOJ has stated that it is examining its strategy.
Academic research, according to critics, is harmed by the program. Following a mistrial, a judge acquitted a Tennessee professor, and prosecutors dropped charges against six other scholars.
According to prosecutors, Lieber lied about his position in the Thousand Talents Program in response to questions from the U.S. Defense Department and the National Institutes of Health, which had given him $15 million in research funds.
Lieber told FBI officials after his detention that he was "younger and stupid" when he teamed up with the Wuhan university, and that he thought his involvement would help him gain fame.
Prosecutors said the school agreed to pay him up to $50,000 per month plus $158,000 in living costs in cash and payments to a Chinese bank account.
Lieber told the FBI that he was paid in cash between $50,000 and $100,000 and that his bank account once held $200,000 in cash.
Prosecutors claim Lieber failed to register his pay on his 2013 and 2014 tax filings, as well as the bank account for two years.
