Legal Docket by CourtListener: United States v. Lieber (1:20-cr-10111)
Jury Trial to Start on December 14, 2021
Federal authorities arrested Professor Charles M. Lieber in January 2020 on charges that he made false statements to officials investigating his funding sources. According to the government, Professor Lieber lied to the Defense Department and the National Institutes of Health about alleged ties to China’s Thousand Talents Plan, a talent recruitment program.
In June 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Professor Lieber on two counts of making false statements. Later that summer, he was additionally indicted on four related tax offenses for allegedly failing to report income he received from Wuhan University of Technology.
The case against Professor Lieber is listed under the "China Initiative" by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which was launched in November 2018 purportedly to combat economic espionage and trade secret theft. However, almost all of the academics including Professor Lieber are charged for various fruads and making false statements instead.
Professor Lieber is an acclaimed chemist and was named a University Professor, Harvard’s highest faculty honor. He has mentored more than a hundred graduate students, postdocs and researchers, many of whom are Asian or Asian American. Most of these former group members are now distinguished scientists in their own right and are working in the United States as faculty at leading universities, research institutions, national laboratories and agencies, as well as start-ups and corporations.
Professor Lieber has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. He has also received backing from several prominent academics. In March 2021, 41 professors at American universities — including seven Nobel laureates — penned a letter arguing against the federal government’s prosecution of Professor Lieber.
Separate from his criminal trial, Professor Lieber continues to pursue a civil suit against Harvard, alleging the University broke its contract by refusing to reimburse his criminal defense fees.
Alongside the charges against him, Professor Lieber has also been battling an advanced form of lymphoma, and his attorneys have pushed for an expedient trial for the opportunity to clear his name. In an October 12 update to the court, Torrey K. Young, one of Lieber’s attorneys, wrote that “Professor Lieber’s health continues to be a paramount concern.”
The final pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for December 8, with a jury trial beginning December 14, 2021.
Links and References
2022/04/04 C&EN: Lawyers called China Initiative “twisted and perverse,” say prosecutors did not prove their case
2022/04/01 Harvard Crimson: Lieber Attorneys Petition District Court Judge for New Trial or Acquittal
2022/02/14 Harvard Crimson: ‘Deterrence Has Been Achieved’: Lieber Trial Signals Broader Federal Aims to Minimize Disclosure Violations
2022/01/27 Harvard Crimson: Following Charles Lieber’s Conviction, ‘Shock’ and Sadness Lingers Among His Harvard Colleagues
2022/01/21 Bloomberg Law opinion: The Lieber ‘China Initiative’ Verdict Is a Loss for the U.S.
Bloomberg opinion: Dropped MIT Case Shows the Perils of the ‘China Initiative’
2021/12/28 Economist: The Charles Lieber case reveals America’s scientific rivalry with China
2021/12/27 Chronicle of Higher Education: What the Lieber Verdict Says, and Doesn’t Say, About Future Probes of Scholars’ Ties to China
2021/12/23 STAT: To lawyers, conviction of Harvard chemist with China ties shouldn’t chill science. Researchers aren’t so sure
2021/12/22 South China Morning Post: Harvard professor Charles Lieber found guilty of concealing ties to China’s scientific talent programme
Margaret Lewis: Charles Lieber’s Conviction as a ‘Victory’ for the China Initiative
Washington Post: Harvard chemistry professor found guilty of hiding ties to China
Chemistry World: Harvard chemist Charles Lieber found guilty of all charges related to Chinese research funding
2021/12/21 Harvard Crimson: Harvard Professor Charles Lieber Found Guilty of Lying About China Ties
Reuters: Harvard professor convicted by U.S. jury of lying about China ties
New York Times: In a Boston Court, a Superstar of Science Falls to Earth
Wall Street Journal: Prominent Harvard Professor Found Guilty of Lying About China Ties
AP: Harvard professor found guilty of hiding ties to China
2021/12/20 Harvard Crimson: In Day 5 of Trial, Investigators Say Lieber’s Alleged False Statements Impeded Federal Inquiries
2021/12/17 Hardvard Crimson: Lieber Told FBI He ‘Wasn’t Completely Transparent’ in Prior Interview with Federal Investigators
Harvard Crimson: Attorneys Spar Over Documents Recovered in FBI Raids During Third Day of Lieber Trial
2021/12/15 Harvard Crimson: As Trial Begins, Lawyers for Harvard Professor Charles Lieber Say He Did Not Conceal Ties to China
2021/12/13 Harvard Crimson: Experts Say Lieber Trial Could Decide Fate of DOJ’s China Initiative
Harvard Crimson: Charles Lieber’s Trial Begins Tuesday: Here’s What You Need to Know
2021/12/10 Law360: DOJ's China Initiative On Trial As Harvard Prof. Faces Jury
2021/12/02 Science: Trial of Harvard chemist poses test for U.S.’s China Initiative
2021/11/02 Harvard Crimson: Embattled Professor Charles Lieber to Go on Trial in December
2021/03/02 Inside Higher Ed: Reconsidering the ‘China Initiative’
2021/03/01 Boston Globe: Nobel Prize winners and other scientists come to defense of Harvard professor Charles Lieber
2021/03/01 Open letter from 41 scientists, including 7 Nobel Prize winners: A Call to Save Professor Charles Lieber and Scientific Collaboration
2020/10/16 Law360: Harvard Prof Says Spy Rhetoric May Have Tainted Grand Jury
2020/10/10 South China Morning Post: Charles Lieber, professor charged in China case, sues Harvard over legal fees
2020/10/09 New York Times: Scientist Accused of Hiding Chinese Funds Sues Harvard, Saying It Abandoned Him
Harvard Crimson: Embattled Chemistry Professor Charles Lieber Sues Harvard, Alleging University Required to Recoup Legal Costs
2020/09/04 Chemical & Engineering News: Open letter to editor from a group of former PhD students and postdocs
2020/01/29 Wall Street Journal: Harvard Chemistry Chairman Under Investigation Is a Giant of His Field
2020/01/28 Department of Justice: Harvard University Professor and Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Three Separate China Related Cases
NPR: Acclaimed Harvard Scientist Is Arrested, Accused Of Lying About Ties To China
In June 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Professor Lieber on two counts of making false statements. Later that summer, he was additionally indicted on four related tax offenses for allegedly failing to report income he received from Wuhan University of Technology.
The case against Professor Lieber is listed under the "China Initiative" by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which was launched in November 2018 purportedly to combat economic espionage and trade secret theft. However, almost all of the academics including Professor Lieber are charged for various fruads and making false statements instead.
Professor Lieber is an acclaimed chemist and was named a University Professor, Harvard’s highest faculty honor. He has mentored more than a hundred graduate students, postdocs and researchers, many of whom are Asian or Asian American. Most of these former group members are now distinguished scientists in their own right and are working in the United States as faculty at leading universities, research institutions, national laboratories and agencies, as well as start-ups and corporations.
Professor Lieber has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. He has also received backing from several prominent academics. In March 2021, 41 professors at American universities — including seven Nobel laureates — penned a letter arguing against the federal government’s prosecution of Professor Lieber.
Separate from his criminal trial, Professor Lieber continues to pursue a civil suit against Harvard, alleging the University broke its contract by refusing to reimburse his criminal defense fees.
Alongside the charges against him, Professor Lieber has also been battling an advanced form of lymphoma, and his attorneys have pushed for an expedient trial for the opportunity to clear his name. In an October 12 update to the court, Torrey K. Young, one of Lieber’s attorneys, wrote that “Professor Lieber’s health continues to be a paramount concern.”
The final pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for December 8, with a jury trial beginning December 14, 2021.
Links and References
2022/04/04 C&EN: Lawyers called China Initiative “twisted and perverse,” say prosecutors did not prove their case
2022/04/01 Harvard Crimson: Lieber Attorneys Petition District Court Judge for New Trial or Acquittal
2022/02/14 Harvard Crimson: ‘Deterrence Has Been Achieved’: Lieber Trial Signals Broader Federal Aims to Minimize Disclosure Violations
2022/01/27 Harvard Crimson: Following Charles Lieber’s Conviction, ‘Shock’ and Sadness Lingers Among His Harvard Colleagues
2022/01/21 Bloomberg Law opinion: The Lieber ‘China Initiative’ Verdict Is a Loss for the U.S.
Bloomberg opinion: Dropped MIT Case Shows the Perils of the ‘China Initiative’
2021/12/28 Economist: The Charles Lieber case reveals America’s scientific rivalry with China
2021/12/27 Chronicle of Higher Education: What the Lieber Verdict Says, and Doesn’t Say, About Future Probes of Scholars’ Ties to China
2021/12/23 STAT: To lawyers, conviction of Harvard chemist with China ties shouldn’t chill science. Researchers aren’t so sure
2021/12/22 South China Morning Post: Harvard professor Charles Lieber found guilty of concealing ties to China’s scientific talent programme
Margaret Lewis: Charles Lieber’s Conviction as a ‘Victory’ for the China Initiative
Washington Post: Harvard chemistry professor found guilty of hiding ties to China
Chemistry World: Harvard chemist Charles Lieber found guilty of all charges related to Chinese research funding
2021/12/21 Harvard Crimson: Harvard Professor Charles Lieber Found Guilty of Lying About China Ties
Reuters: Harvard professor convicted by U.S. jury of lying about China ties
New York Times: In a Boston Court, a Superstar of Science Falls to Earth
Wall Street Journal: Prominent Harvard Professor Found Guilty of Lying About China Ties
AP: Harvard professor found guilty of hiding ties to China
2021/12/20 Harvard Crimson: In Day 5 of Trial, Investigators Say Lieber’s Alleged False Statements Impeded Federal Inquiries
2021/12/17 Hardvard Crimson: Lieber Told FBI He ‘Wasn’t Completely Transparent’ in Prior Interview with Federal Investigators
Harvard Crimson: Attorneys Spar Over Documents Recovered in FBI Raids During Third Day of Lieber Trial
2021/12/15 Harvard Crimson: As Trial Begins, Lawyers for Harvard Professor Charles Lieber Say He Did Not Conceal Ties to China
2021/12/13 Harvard Crimson: Experts Say Lieber Trial Could Decide Fate of DOJ’s China Initiative
Harvard Crimson: Charles Lieber’s Trial Begins Tuesday: Here’s What You Need to Know
2021/12/10 Law360: DOJ's China Initiative On Trial As Harvard Prof. Faces Jury
2021/12/02 Science: Trial of Harvard chemist poses test for U.S.’s China Initiative
2021/11/02 Harvard Crimson: Embattled Professor Charles Lieber to Go on Trial in December
2021/03/02 Inside Higher Ed: Reconsidering the ‘China Initiative’
2021/03/01 Boston Globe: Nobel Prize winners and other scientists come to defense of Harvard professor Charles Lieber
2021/03/01 Open letter from 41 scientists, including 7 Nobel Prize winners: A Call to Save Professor Charles Lieber and Scientific Collaboration
2020/10/16 Law360: Harvard Prof Says Spy Rhetoric May Have Tainted Grand Jury
2020/10/10 South China Morning Post: Charles Lieber, professor charged in China case, sues Harvard over legal fees
2020/10/09 New York Times: Scientist Accused of Hiding Chinese Funds Sues Harvard, Saying It Abandoned Him
Harvard Crimson: Embattled Chemistry Professor Charles Lieber Sues Harvard, Alleging University Required to Recoup Legal Costs
2020/09/04 Chemical & Engineering News: Open letter to editor from a group of former PhD students and postdocs
2020/01/29 Wall Street Journal: Harvard Chemistry Chairman Under Investigation Is a Giant of His Field
2020/01/28 Department of Justice: Harvard University Professor and Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Three Separate China Related Cases
NPR: Acclaimed Harvard Scientist Is Arrested, Accused Of Lying About Ties To China