A prominent Chinese-American group is demanding White House and congressional investigations into the case of nuclear scientist Lee Wen-ho, calling his treatment a 'national travesty'.
The Committee of 100, a New York-based group of leading Chinese-Americans, said the handling of the case had done grave damage to US science.
'The best and the brightest are no longer enthusiastically seeking careers in national laboratories. The whole affair is a national travesty,' said chairman Henry Tang.
His comments came as news spread that the Government's case against the Taiwanese scientist had all but collapsed.
Recent reports have suggested recruitment of Asian-Americans has dropped to a trickle at America's three high-security research institutions as graduates, fearful of racial persecution, seek careers elsewhere.
Lee's family hopes he will be released from detention in New Mexico today once his plea-bargain is finalised.
