A forensic expert, who has played a role in many significant U.S. murder cases, has reportedly been training Chinese police alongside American law enforcement officials for several decades at a federally funded facility in Connecticut, according to an investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Dr. Henry C. Lee, who gained fame in China for providing expert testimony in the O.J. Simpson murder trial in 1995, has been known for his work as head of the Connecticut State Police. He was involved in several high-profile investigations, including the cases of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping and the murders of JonBenet Ramsey and Lacey Peterson.
For over a decade, Lee began working with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and local governments to share his forensic expertise. He held important positions that allowed him to collaborate with various departments, facilitating numerous training sessions at the University of New Haven (UNH), where he was a professor for more than 50 years, as stated in translations of Chinese media reports.
Lee mentioned that during his career, over a thousand teams with more than 10,000 Chinese police officers received specialized training at UNH. He expressed admiration for the dedication and academic drive of those he trained.
Republican Representative John Moolenaar, the chair of the House Select Committee on the Communist Party of China, stated that the allegations surrounding UNH trainees connected to the MPS warrant thorough investigation and emphasized the need for U.S. universities to protect taxpayer-funded research.
A spokesperson from UNH acknowledged Lee’s training of Chinese officials but indicated that she was unaware of his connections to the Chinese government. She noted that over a decade, 34 Chinese institutions sent 439 people for training at Lee’s institute at UNH.
While this training was ongoing, U.S. government agencies allocated significant funding to UNH, amounting to more than $135 million since 2008. Moolenaar criticized the acceptance of individuals linked to the MPS, stressing the oppressive nature of the agency towards the Chinese population.
Lee has taken on various roles within China’s national security sector, establishing a law enforcement training center and continuing to support local police training programs. He often returned to China for lectures and training sessions at various levels of government.
Reports indicate that Lee not only trained personnel but was also involved in funding and scholarship opportunities for Chinese police officers to study abroad, raising concerns about the implications of having such connections within the context of U.S. national security.
Critics argue that Lee’s actions could be seen as aiding a regime that poses a threat against American interests. The situation raises broader discussions about foreign influence and the necessity of safeguarding national security in educational and professional exchanges.
As the investigation continues, observers warn against the unintentional support of adversarial governments through academic partnerships, highlighting the urgent need to scrutinize these relationships going forward.
