Media Advisory – Press Conference on May 23 at Capitol Hill

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2018 
Contact: Frank H. Wu, President media@committee100.org​ or 212-371-6565

ASIAN AMERICAN GROUPS NATIONWIDE RALLY AROUND SHERRY CHEN’S QUEST FOR JUSTICE

U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Agrees Hydrologist Was a Victim of “Gross Injustice” Due to Mishandling at Commerce Department, Whose Intention to Appeal Draws Community Ire 

Washington, D.C.​ – Award-winning hydrologist Sherry Chen, whose case drew national media coverage, will speak at a press conference on Capitol Hill for the first time since a U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”) judge ruled in her favor overwhelmingly against the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).

WHO:​ Sherry Chen is a U.S. citizen who was employed with the National Weather Service, a division of DOC, when she was wrongfully accused of Chinese espionage in 2014. The government dropped all charges before trial in 2015 but terminated her federal employment based on the same false accusations.​ ​The MSPB recently ruled that Sherry was a victim of “gross injustice” due to mishandling at multiple levels of the DOC and ordered the agency to restore Sherry to her job with back pay and benefits.

Speakers include Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus leaders, Reps. Judy Chu, Ted Lieu, and Grace Meng; C100 President Frank Wu; Ohio Chinese American Association Board Chair Vincent Wang; and, United Chinese Americans President Haipei Shue, among others.

WHAT​: Sherry Chen and her lawyer Steve Simon will call for the MSPB decision to stand, and discuss how the MSPB decision has strengthened the false arrest complaint against DOC that the U.S. Department of Justice is charged with investigating. Asian American leaders will speak to concerns of a pattern of racial profiling involving Chinese American scientists. Congressional leaders will make renewed calls to the Commerce and Justice departments to carry out independent investigations.

WHEN​: May 23, 2018, 9:30 am ET 

WHERE:​ Cannon House Office Building Room 421, Washington, D.C.

RSVP: http://bit.ly/rsvpMay23PressConference  

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