Franklin Tao 陶丰

On August 21, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao (陶丰), a professor at Kansas University for failing to disclose conflict of interest with Fuzhou University in China.

Professor Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative.

Professor Tao was born in China and moved to the U.S. in 2002. He earned his doctorate’s degree from Princeton University and worked at the University of California-Berkeley and Notre Dame before August 2014, when he was hired as a tenured associate professor at the University of Kansas’ Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis. The center conducts research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy.

The jury trial was delayed several times. The government added the second superseding indictments on June 24, 2020, bringing the total to 10 counts of wire fraud and making false statements.

In full support of Professor Tao, the community submitted amicus briefs, organized rallies, and raised legal defense funds.

A jury trial started on March 21, 2022. Professor Tao was found guilty on three wire-fraud counts and one false-statement count but acquitted him on four other counts.

On September 20, 2022, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson reversed the three counts of wire fraud convictions and acquitted Professor Tao.

On January 18, 2023, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson handed down the lightest possible sentence on the last conviction of making false statement against Professor Franklin Tao with no jail time, no fine, and 2 years of probation.

Professor Tao appealed.

On September 21, 2023, the 10th Circuit Appeals Court held a hearing in Denver, Colorado, on Professor Tao’s appeal to overturn the lone conviction.

On July 11, 2024, the Appeals Court on a 2-1 vote ruled that prosecutors offered insufficient evidence at trial to support the sole remaining count on which jurors convicted Professor Tao in 2022.

Professor Tao was acquitted of the last charge, bringing an end to his five-year ordeal of criminal persecution.

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2019/08/21 Indictment and Pre-trial Motions

On August 21, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao (陶丰), a professor at Kansas University (KU) for failing to disclose conflict of interest with Fuzhou University in China. He was charged for four counts of program and wire fraud.

Professor Tao has been an associate professor and researcher at the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis (CEBC) since August 2014. He was conducting research under two Department of Energy (DOE) contracts and four National Science Foundation (NSF) contracts.

If convicted, Professor Tao faced up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the three program fraud counts.

On November 17, attorneys for Professor Tao filed a motion to dismiss the case.

It revealed that the government’s investigation into Dr. Tao grew out of fabricated allegations by a disgruntled, unpaid visiting scholar at KU, who, after failing to extort Dr. Tao for $300,000, later admitted to the FBI that she hacked into Dr. Tao’s email account to fish for “evidence” she could provide to the FBI and then, using phony aliases, fabricated complaints to both KU and the FBI regarding Dr. Tao.

The motion stated that Dr. Tao never accepted a teaching position in China and, therefore, he had no obligation to make any disclosure to KU. Dr. Tao’s Conflict of Interest form was completely accurate when he represented that he had no conflict that would interfere with his teaching responsibilities at KU, and it would have been false had he certified otherwise.

Five additional arguments were provided to support the motion to dismiss.

On January 6, 2020, the federal judge delayed ruling on the motion to dismiss. Government attorneys said they planned to file a superseding indictment.

On January 15, 2020, Government attorneys filed the first superseding indictment of two counts of wire fraud and one count of program fraud.

On June 24, 2020, Government attorneys filed the second superseding indictment of seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of false statement.

On August 14, 2020, attorneys for Professor Tao filed two motions with attachments to dismiss the second superseding indictment, arguing that the government seeks to use Tao’s prosecution as a potential new model for DOJ to prosecute professors “without having to produce evidence of intellectual property theft or export control violations.” The prosecution of Dr. Tao ensnared in a U.S. government crackdown on Chinese economic espionage and trade secret theft opens the door to criminalizing workplace disagreements.

The motion takes aim at the broader China Initiative announced by DOJ in 2018 to counter the threat of Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft, including on American college campuses. Since then, federal prosecutors have charged Chinese academics across the country of failing to disclose foreign sources of funding and lying about their links to China.

“The Department of Justice is not the Ministry of Truth, and it lacks authority to regulate routine, private miscommunications between employees and employers regarding employee activities,” the motion says.

“If the Court permits this Indictment to proceed to trial, it would open the floodgates to a vast range of federal prosecutions for garden-variety employment disputes that otherwise would have, at most, subjected the employee to administrative discipline at work,” they added. “This government overreach would not be limited to university professors.”

On August 20, 2020, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus filed an amicus brief in support of Professor Tao and opposes the government’s increased efforts to target and racially profile Asian American scientists and researchers.

The amicus brief addresses the government’s broad campaign to scrutinize and target Chinese American scientists and researchers and discusses how the government’s xenophobic and overzealous prosecutions does real harm to the individual lives of Chinese and Asian Americans and immigrant communities.

The government has been mounting a broad campaign scrutinizing and targeting Chinese American scientists and researchers through the China Initiative. Fueled by xenophobia, the China Initiative was adopted by the Department of Justice in 2018 for the purported purpose of combating economic espionage. The China Initiative is part of the latest wave of xenophobia against Chinese and Asian Americans and follows a long history of Asian Americans and immigrants being criminalized, stereotyped as “perpetual foreigners,” scapegoated, and profiled as spies disloyal to the United States.

On November 2, 2020, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson denied the motion to dismiss the Second Superseding indictment.

On November 28, 2020, a GoFundMe campaign was started to raise legal defense funds for Professor Tao.

References and Links

2020/11/28 GoFundMe: Legal Defense Fund for Franklin Tao

2020/11/02 AP: Judge refuses to dismiss charges against Kansas researcher

2020/11/02 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 99) Memorandum and Order

2020/08/21 Chemical & Engineering News: University of Kansas chemist Feng ‘Franklin’ Tao’s attorneys move to dismiss charges for fraud and false statements

2020/08/21世界日报: 亞裔民權機構：未披露與中國大學關係不算商業間諜

2020/08/21 AsAmNews: Amicus Brief from Asian American Civil Rights Groups Alleges Federal Government Racially Profiles Asian American Researchers, Scientists

2020/08/20 Advancing Justice | AAJC: United States v. Tao Amicus Brief

2020/08/14 AP: Filing: Kansas prof’s prosecution criminalizes job disputes

2020/08/14 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 83) Memorandum of Dr. Franklin Tao in Support of His Motion to Dismiss The Second Superseding Indictment Due to The Government’s False, Misleading, and Prejudicial Statements to The Grand Jury

2020/08/14 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 82) Memorandum of Dr. Franklin Tao in support of His Motion to Dismiss The Second Superseding Indictment for Failure to State an Offense and Lack of Venue

2020/07/02 Chemical & Engineering News: Revised charges filed against University of Kansas chemist Feng ‘Franklin’ Tao

2020/06/24 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 75) Second Superseding Indictment

2020/01/24 Chemical & Engineering News: New charges filed against University of Kansas chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao

2020/01/15 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 50) Superseding Indictment

2020/01/06 AP: Judge mulls fate of US researcher who denies Chinese work

2019/11/20 Washington Post: Accused of fraud, Kansas researcher denies working for a Chinese university as he fights federal charge

2019/11/18 AP: Kansas researcher denies working for Chinese university

2019/11/17 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 30) Motion to Dismiss The Indictment

2019/11/17 Wall Street Journal: U.S. Struggles to Stem Chinese Efforts to Recruit Scientists

2019/09/18 Law360: Professor’s Case Draws Hard Line On Foreign Conflicts

2019/08/22 Financial Times中文网: US indicts Chinese professor over alleged lack of disclosure

2019/08/21 Reuters: U.S. charges Kansas researcher over ties to Chinese university

2019/08/21 KMBC9 News: KU researcher charged with failing to disclose conflict of interest with Chinese university

2019/08/21 Bloomberg: U.S. Says Scientist Hid Job in China. Web Search Tells Otherwise

2019/08/21 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 1) Sealed Indictment

2019/08/21 Department of Justice: University of Kansas Researcher Indicted for Fraud for Failing to Disclose Conflict of Interest with Chinese University

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2022/03/21 Jury Trial to Start After Several Delays

On August 21, 2021, attorneys for Professor Tao motioned for a hearing and to suppress evidence resulting from two unlawful search warrants obtained using false and misleading affidavits.

According to a Washington Post on August 24, 2021, FBI agent Stephen Lampe knowingly used false information from an informant to obtain warrants to search Tao’s emails, computers, home and office. The motion says Lampe deliberately withheld information that would undercut the informant’s credibility and the reliability of the evidence.

On September 9, 2021, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson struck down the defense’s motion and set a trial date of October 25, 2021.

On October 21, 2021, the jury trial set for October 25, 2021, was canceled.

On November 23, 2021, attorneys for Professor Tao filed an opposition to the Government’s motion for Rule 15 depositions and objection to continued trial date. The Court has granted the government’s motion to continue the October 25, 2021 trial date, then December 6, 2021, and subsequently to April 18, 2022.

On December 20, 2021, Judge Robinson reset the trial date to March 21, 2022.

On January 27, 2022, Judge Robinson excluded expert testimony in the upcoming trial of Professor Tao on the grounds it risks fanning anti-Chinese sentiment, The expert witness in question was Dr. Glenn Tiffert.

While Judge Robinson agreed Dr. Tiffert's testimony might be relevant and helpful, she said any testimony about the Chinese government’s efforts to acquire foreign technology to further its industrial policy objectives “risks misleading the jury into thinking this case is actually an economic espionage or theft of trade secrets case.”

“But this is not an espionage prosecution,” Judge Robinson continued, “and the Government may not color the trial with national security overtones. This testimony also poses a significant risk of stoking Sinophobia, especially given that Defendant, who is Chinese, faces trial amid increasing reports of anti-Asian discrimination and violence since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic — and evoking exactly the kind of negative emotional response that might ‘lure the [jury] into declaring guilt on a ground different from proof specific to the offense charged.’”

On February 7, 2022, the Government motioned to dismiss one count of wire fraud and one count of false statement from the Second Superseding Indictment, leaving a total of eight counts. The motion was unopposed.

References and Links

2022/02/07 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 219) Government’s Motion to Dismiss Counts Three and Eight of The Second Superseding Indictment (Doc. 75)

2022/01/28 KCUR/NPR: Judge deals blow to government’s case against KU professor accused of concealing Chinese ties

2022/01/27 Politico: Judge limits testimony at trial of professor accused of hiding Chinese ties

2022/01/27 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 215) Memorandum & Order

2021/11/23 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 199) Dr. Franklin Tao’s [Redacted] Opposition to The Government’s Motion for Rule 15 Depositions and

Objection to Continued Trial Date.

2021/10/21 Mother Jones: Has the DOJ’s Campaign to Root Out Chinese Spies on College Campuses Gone Too Far?

2019/09/09 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc.145) Trial Order

2019/09/09 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 144) Order Striking Notice of Clarification

2021/08/24 Washington Post: Kansas professor says FBI misled court in alleging hidden ties to Chinese government

2019/08/21 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc.127) Motion for Franks Hearing and To Suppress Evidence Resulting from Two Unlawful Search Warrants Obtained Using

False and Misleading Affidavits

2021/08/15 侨报网: 又一被控华裔教授叫屈！陶丰律师指FBI误导法官

2021/01/28 《美南日报》: 陶峰教授即將與司法部對簿公堂

2021/01/22 United Chinese Americans: 陶峰即将与司法部对簿公堂

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2022/03/21 Jury Trial Lasted 17 Days

Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) ended the China Initiative in February 2022, it did not end the prosecution of Professor Tao, the first academic indicted under the initiative. It highlighted how problematic and damaging the China Initiative was.

Professor Tao was not going on trial for spying or handing sensitive information to China. He was charged with fraud and making false statements - essentially, failure to disclose affiliations with a Chinese university and a government-run talent program.

The trial was held at the Robert J. Dole Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas.

Defense lawyer Peter Zeidenberg said during his opening statement that the defense team would focus on what they said was a rush to prosecution without a deeper look at the evidence. He mentioned a former graduate student of Professor Tao’s who allegedly took revenge for a perceived slight by submitting a false report under assumed identities claiming that Professor Tao was a tech spy.

Professor Tao was charged with six counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements, not espionage. The judge limited mention of the China Initiative in the trial.

There were still some media reports that produced misleading headlines and contents, including the Kansas Public Radio.

On April 5, 2022, lawyers made their final arguments, and the jurors began deliberations the next day.

In closing arguments recapping more than two weeks of testimony, lawyers drilled down on points they have made since the beginning of the case. Prosecutors reviewed a long list of emails, recorded phone conversations and other evidence, saying Tao sought to hide a full-time research job with Fuzhou University that should have been disclosed to the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, the granting agencies, as well as to KU.

One of Tao’s defense attorneys, Peter Zeidenberg, argued that the government had fallen far short of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

“In almost three years of investigation, two weeks of evidence, twenty-eight government witnesses and hundreds and hundreds of exhibits and not one word about loss.”

Grants go directly to the university and not to professors, a fact Zeidenberg said FBI investigators failed to learn.

“The government wants you to believe Dr. Tao lied and cheated,” he said, noting the money benefited KU.“ Then he worked sixteen hours a day on those grants. What kind of a fraud scheme is that?”

Zeidenberg said the government failed to show any false statements were made to granting agencies and that in fact the grants applications were submitted before the job at Fuzhou was offered. Tao was not required to report pending grants, he said. Moreover, the Fuzhou affiliation was listed publicly on progress reports on three of Tao’s papers, he said.

Zeidenberg also faulted the FBI investigation that led to Tao’s arrest. The agency took the word of a woman who accused Tao of being a tech spy after trying to extort him, he said.

“They pinned their ears back and put their blinders on and focused on getting Dr. Tao,” rather than doing basic research about how the grant process works, Zeidenberg said.

“The government is apparently unwilling or unable to acknowledge or admit they made a huge mistake here.”

On April 7, 2022, the jury found Professor Tao guilty of four of the eight counts against him – three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement.

References and Links

2022/04/22 JDSupra: After Researcher's Conviction on Some Counts, Attorney Chides Universities, Sees 'No Harm'

2022/04/14 Science: Why a judge might overturn a guilty verdict against a U.S. scientist for hiding China ties

2022/04/13 New Yorker: An Uncertain Future for a Chinese Scientist Accused of Espionage

2022/04/11 Inside Higher Ed: A Verdict, but No Clear Victory, for the China Initiative

2022/04/08 Nature: Jury finds University of Kansas chemical engineer guilty of hiding ties to China

2022/04/07 KMBC: Federal jury convicts KU professor Feng “Franklin” Tao on four counts of wire fraud

2022/04/07 Law360: Prof. Convicted Over China Ties But Judge To Review Verdict

2022/04/07 Reuters: University of Kansas professor convicted of concealing China ties

2022/04/07 C&EN: Breaking: University of Kansas chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao found guilty over China interactions

2022/04/07 KCUR/NPR: University of Kansas professor charged under Trump-era initiative convicted of wire fraud

2022/04/07 Science: Kansas chemistry professor found guilty of hiding ties to China

2022/04/07 NPR: A jury finds a Kansas scholar guilty of fraud and hiding ties to China

2022/04/06 C&EN: Daily updates: Trial continues for University of Kansas chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao over China interactions

2022/04/05 KCUR/NPR: Case of University of Kansas professor accused of concealing China ties goes to the jury

2022/04/05 Law360: Kansas Professor Says FBI Cut Corners In China Ties Case

2022/04/04 AP: Kansas researcher to mount defense over China ties at trial

2022/04/02 KCUR/NPR: Defense will put on its case in closely watched trial of KU professor accused of wire fraud

2022/04/01 UCA|北美新视界: 陶丰教授首周庭审结束，检方证人无法拿出不利证据2022/03/22 KCUR/NPR: Prosecutors accuse KU professor of leading 'double life' in trial over concealing China ties

2022/03/22 AP: Kansas researcher accused of secret China work goes to trial

2022/03/22 北美新视界: 陶丰教授庭审首日选出陪审团

2022/03/21 NPR: Arrested under a Trump-era China initiative, Franklin Tao heads to trial

2022/03/21 C&EN: Trial starts for University of Kansas chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao over China interactions

2022/03/21 Nature: High-profile trial begins for chemical engineer accused of hiding China ties

2022/03/21 Inquirer.net: Anti-Asian xenophobia – the next wave

2022/03/21 WMBC: Federal trial begins for KU professor accused of lying to university

2022/03/21 Kansas Reflector: KU professor accused of fraud under China Initiative goes to criminal trial

2022/03/14 New Yorker: Have Chinese Spies Infiltrated American Campuses?

2022/09/20 Convictions Reversed

On September 20, 2022, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson ruled on the defense motion filed in April 2022 for judgment of acquittal and alternative motion for a new trial.

Judge Robinson reversed the conviction of three wire fraud charges against Professor Tao. She sustained the conviction of one count of making a false statement and denied the motion for a new trial.

Judge Robinson said in her ruling, “Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, the Court finds that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support Tao’s wire fraud convictions. Though Tao was deceptive in not disclosing his activities at FZU, there was no evidence that Tao obtained money or property through the alleged scheme to defraud, as required under the wire fraud statute. During the time period of the alleged scheme to defraud, Tao continued to rightfully receive his salary from KU for his services and continued to successfully perform the research required by DOE and NSF under their research grants. But there was sufficient evidence supporting the jury’s guilty verdict on the false statement count. Tao made a false statement in certifying to the truth and completeness of the September 2018 Institutional Responsibilities form he submitted to KU. Further, there is no basis for a new trial on the false statement count.”

On September 22, 2022, sentencing for the false statement conviction was set for January 18, 2023.

On October 19, 2022, the Government appealed to the 10th Circuit Appeals Court granting the acquittal of three counts of wire fraud.

On November 28, 2022, the Government motioned for voluntary dismissal of its appeal. It was granted unopposed.

References and Links

2022/11/28 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 315) Order to Dismiss the Government's Appeal

2022/10/19 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 309) Government’s Notice of Appeal

2022/09/29 The National Law Journal: The China Initiative May Have Finally Died—Killed Not by DOJ but the Courts

2022/09/22 Nature: Convictions reversed for US chemical engineer accused of hiding China ties

2022/09/20 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 307) Judgment of Acquittal

2022/09/20 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 306) Memorandum and Order

2022/04/21 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 286) Dr. Franklin Tao’s Renewed Motion for Judgment of Acquittal and Alternative Motion for a New Trial

2023/01/18 Sentencing

On January 18, 2023, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson sentenced Professor Tao to time served and two years of probation for the lone conviction of making a false statement. She did not impose a fine.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of two and a half years.

In announcing the sentence, Judge Robinson said prosecutors had presented no evidence during the trial that Professor Tao received any money for his work in China, which is required for a wire fraud conviction.

She said when the trial started, she expected to hear evidence that Professor Tao’s deceptions caused financial loss and that he shared important research with Chinese officials at the expense of U.S. taxpayers and the three institutions.

Rather, the evidence showed that Professor Tao continued fulfilling his duties to the University of Kansas while in China by working 70-hour weeks and pushing his students at Kansas to do the same. And she noted he was doing fundamental research that is freely shared across the scientific community.

“This is not an espionage case ... If it was, they presented absolutely no evidence that was going on,” Judge Robinson said. “Believe me, if that was what was going on, it would have been a much different sentence today.”

Professor Tao’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, said he will appeal Tao’s remaining conviction.

Professor Tao served a week in prison after his arrest in 2018 and has worn an electronic monitoring while having his travel restricted since then. His attorneys said the case destroyed his reputation, his family’s financial stability and his distinguished career.

References and Links

2023/01/20 Inside Higher Ed: Probation, Not Prison, for Researcher in China Initiative Case

2023/01/19 Yahoo News: Judge rules no jail time for University of Kansas researcher accused of secret China work

2023/01/19 Nature: US chemical engineer avoids prison after conviction for hiding ties to China

2023/01/18 Science: No jail time for Kansas professor convicted for undisclosed research ties to China

2023/01/19 VOA: Former Researcher Avoids Prison in China-Related Probe From Trump Era

2023/01/18 Reuters: Kansas researcher avoids prison in blow to Trump-era China-related probe

2023/01/18 AP News: Kansas researcher given time served in China-related case

2023/01/18 C&EN: Chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao sentenced to time served

2024/07/11 Appeal Victory

On July 11, 2024, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver overturned the lone conviction of Professor Tao for making a false statement related to work he was doing in China.

The Appeals Court ruled in a 2-to-1 decision, “We reverse his conviction … and agree with Tao that the government offered insufficient evidence for a rational jury to find that his statement to his employer was material to any DOE or NSF decision” affecting the status of his grants.

U.S. Circuit Judge Nancy Moritz wrote for the majority.

Professor Tao said in a statement issued by United Chinese Americans (UCA) after the appeal victory,

"Today, I come to you with a mix of heavy and joyous feelings to update you on the outcome of our four-year struggle. The Tenth Circuit Court has removed the last remaining charge against me. These four years of fighting against ten baseless charges have been an unimaginable battle. Without the just legal assistance of our lawyers, Peter Zeidenberg and Mike Dearington, I could not have achieved today's victory.

"I want to express my gratitude to our Chinese and Asian communities (including UCA, AAJC, Committee 100, APA Justice, Asian American Scholar Forum, CALDA, AFI, OCAA...) and the many Chinese friends who supported me. I am especially thankful for UCA's continued support and encouragement over these years. Special thanks go to UCA President Haipei Shue and his team for their tremendous support. Without President Shue's personal encouragement and support, we could not have fought to this day!"

各位华人朋友们，

今天我怀着极其沉重而高兴的心情来向你们更新这四年以来奋力抗争的结果。今天第十巡回法庭将最后一个强加在我身上的最后一个罪状去掉了。这四年来，对这十个毫无根据的罪状的抗争是一场令人难以想象的斗争。没有我们的律师Peter Zeidenberg and Mike Dearington 正义的法律援助，

我不可能得到今天的胜利。我要感谢，我们华人和亚裔团体（包括UCA, AAJC, Committee 100, APA Justice, Asian American Scholar Forum, CALDA, AFI, OCAA….）和众多华人朋友的支持。我要感谢UCA对我在这几年的持续支持和鼓励。我特别感谢UCA薛海培会长及其团队的鼎力支持。没有薛会长亲力亲为的鼓励和支持，我们不可能抗争到到今天！

陶丰

References and Links

2024/08/13 South China Morning Post: Why the spectre of another Trump term haunts China-born scientists in the US

2024/08/07 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 356) Amended Judgment of Acquittal

2024/07/22 Chemistry World: Chinese-born chemist cleared of last conviction under US’s espionage probe

2024/07/17 AsAmNews: Court overturns Dr. Feng ‘Franklin’ Tao’s conviction under China initiative

2024/07/13 AP: Court voids last conviction of Kansas researcher in case that started as Chinese espionage probe

2024/07/12 星岛环球网: “中国计划”首位被起诉华人学者，堪萨斯大学副教授陶丰上诉得直

2024/07/12 世界新聞網: 缠讼4年中国行动计划首位起诉教授陶丰 10控罪全撤销

2024/07/12 Science: Court exonerates Kansas professor in China research fraud case

2024/07/12 Kansas Reflector: Federal appellate court tosses final conviction in case against former tenured Kansas professor

2024/07/11 俄州亚太联盟: 罪名被推翻，陶峰教授赢了！

2024/07/11 美國華人聯盟 UCA: 快讯 | 华裔学者陶丰胜诉，联邦上诉法院推翻定罪

2024/07/11 Reuters: Kansas researcher wins reversal of conviction in Trump-era China probe

2022/02/14 USA v Tao 2:19-cr-20052: (Doc. 222) Order

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Community Engagement and Support

The communities were mobilized and engaged from the first day of Professor Tao’s indictment.

On August 21, 2019, the day of DOJ’s indictment, Bloomberg conducted a web search and published the first media report on Professor Tao’s case by fact-checking some of the allegations of the indictment.

On September 9, 2019, APA Justice convened a regular conference call (those were days before the use of Zoom) to inform concerned individuals and organizations about the indictment of Professor Tao.

On August 20, 2020, Advancing Justice | AAJC and Advancing Justice | ALC filed an amicus brief in United States v. Feng "Franklin" Tao, providing significant evidence of racial profiling against Asian American and immigrant scientists and researchers.

On November 28, 2020, a GoFundMe campaign was set up for a legal defense fund for Professor Tao. Almost 6,000 donations have been made so far.

When the jury trial date was set to start on December 6, 2021, a turnout campaign was being organized to support Professor Tao in Kansas City, Kansas

On January 18, 2023, supporters of Professor Tao gathered in the cold wind and rain outside the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse as he was sentenced for the lone conviction of making a false statement.

On September 21, 2023, over 30 community members came from across the country to show their support for Professor Tao by attending the hearing to overturn the lone conviction, which was held by the 10th Circuit Appeals Court in Denver, Colorado.