Judge grants prosecutors' request to end case against Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova
A judge has ended the criminal case against Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova, accused of smuggling frog embryos, after prosecutors asked to drop it.
A federal judge has ended the criminal case against Kseniia Petrova, the Russian-born Harvard researcher accused of smuggling frog embryos into the United States. NBC News reports the judge dismissed the charges. ABC News reports the judge was acting on a request from prosecutors.
The Hill reports the Trump administration made that request. The New York Times and The Hill both reported earlier that prosecutors had moved to drop the charges. ABC News headlined its report as the Department of Justice dropping the case.
Petrova was arrested in 2025. The Hill reports she was detained and threatened with deportation after she failed to declare the items at airport customs. Her lawyers argued that such an infraction would normally be treated as a lesser matter, according to The Hill.
The New York Times reports that Petrova has argued she was vindictively prosecuted.
Reported by
- The New York TimesProsecutors Seek to Drop Charges Against Russian Scientist Accused of Smuggling Frog EmbryosTue, Nov 3, 10:44 PM EST
- The HillProsecutors move to drop charges against scientist accused of smuggling frog embryosWed, Nov 4, 10:16 AM EST
- NBC NewsFederal judge drops charges against Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryosWed, Nov 4, 12:48 PM EST
- ABC NewsDOJ drops charges against Russian researcher accused of smuggling frog embryosWed, Nov 4, 5:19 PM EST
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (1)
- Wed, Nov 4, 7:10 PM EST, 3 outlets: Judge dismisses charges against Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos