The Department of Commerce says it plans to appeal a judge’s decision to order the reinstatement of a government scientist accused of spying, reports ABC7 News.
As AsAmNews first reported April 25, a judge ordered the National Weather Service to give Sherry Chen her job back with back pay.
She was fired in 2015 even after prosecutors dropped espionage charges against her for sharing with a Chinese scientist information that turned out to be from public documents.
Chen made her first public comments about the case in Santa Clara, California Friday at the annual convention of the Committee of 100.
“DOC (Dept of Commerce) officials not only made up false allegations, but also covered up an important investigation that was specially designed to determine whether any action could be taken against me,” Chen told convention-goers.
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Despite the planned appeal of the judge’s ruling, Chen will be allowed to return to work during the appeal process.
“I love my job,” Chen told ABC7 News. “During the entire time I felt the strong support that was with me.”
As she fought her firing, members of the Chinese American community raised money for her defense fund and many members of Congress spoke in her support.
According to Cincinnati.com, the ruling by Chief Administrative Judge Michele Schroeder of the Merit Systems Protection Board was particularly critical of Chen’s supervisors.
“Ms. Furgione and Admiral Devany seemed more concerned about being right than doing the right thing,” the decision said. “Based on the unyielding nature of their testimony, I would not have been surprised if they rejected that 2 + 2 = 4.”
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