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Asian-American group fights ``overaggressive'' prosecution of
scientists
Thursday February 06, 2003
FOSTER CITY, Calif. (AP) A political group announced Thursday
its declaration to protect Asian and Asian-American scientists and
engineers from ``improper government investigative tactics.''
The board of directors of the political action committee 80-20,
which raises money and support for political candidates friendly to
Asian-American communities, unanimously adopted the resolution at
its annual board meeting here.
Members said they wanted to help Asian scientists avoid the fate
of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a physicist once accused of stealing what some
termed the crown jewels of U.S. nuclear weapons science.
After being fired from Los Alamos National Laboratory and
arrested in December 1999, Lee spent 279 days in solitary
confinement before the government dropped 58 counts against him.
If 80-20's board of directors suspects that another Asian or
Asian-American scientist is wrongfully imprisoned or unfairly
treated during a federal investigation, the group said it will try
to raise awareness through the media and politicians. The group,
which is registered with the Federal Election Commission, said it
has a mailing list of 600,000 people and 1,600 dues-paying members
in the United States.
If the committee believes federal authorities are pursuing an
``overaggressive, perhaps wrongful'' investigation in part because
of the scientist's race, it may also offer financial or legal
support to the scientist.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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