Federation of American Scientists The Honorable James A. Parker
307 Massachusetts Avenue N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002August 1, 2000
United States District Judge
United States District Court
for the District of New Mexico
333 Lomas Blvd, NW, Chambers 760
Albuquerque, NM 87102Dear Judge Parker:
I am writing on behalf of the Federation of American Scientists to urge you to grant favorable consideration to Dr. Wen Ho Lee's pending motion for bail and release from pre-trial incarceration. The Federation, founded by Manhattan Project scientists, is a national organization of scientists and engineers that has worked on policy issues in science and technology since 1945.
While we have no independent knowledge of the facts of the case, we note that the specifics of the allegations against Dr. Lee have shifted dramatically from when he was publicly portrayed last year as an alleged spy for the People's Republic of China to the present time when he is accused of computer security violations. We note further that the hyperbolic claims that the "global strategic balance" is somehow at issue in this case have been substantially rebutted by senior nuclear scientists.
Incredibly, Dr. Lee has now served over seven months under extraordinarily harsh prison conditions, although he has been convicted of no crime. This is hard to reconcile with our understanding of American justice. It seems more like the Red Queen's policy in Alice in Wonderland: "Sentence first-- verdict afterwards."
We believe that the continued incarceration of Dr. Lee is indecent. We hope you will find that it is also contrary to law.
cc:
Respectfully,
Henry C. Kelly
President
George A. Stamboulidis
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney's Office
P.O. Box 607
Albuquerque, NM 87103John D. Cline
Freedman Boyd Daniels
Suite 700
20 First Plaza
Albuquerque, NM 87102