The affirmation of the French government this A scientist was denied entry into the United States Due to an opinion he expressed about Trump’s administration, it is « blatantly false », a North -American Officer said.
Although the France authorities continued to call the case on violation of academic freedom, the North -American Officer, Tricia McLaughlin, who is a spokesman for the National Security Department, said that the scientist had diverted himself for reasons that had no relation to his personal beliefs.
« The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device in the National Laboratory of Los Alamos, in violation of a non -dissemination agreement, which he admitted to take without permission and tried to hide, » said Mrs. McLaughlin in the afternoon Thursday.
Philippe Baptiste, the French Higher Education Minister, said this week that the scientist, who has not been publicly identified and specializing in foreign space research, traveled to a conference near Houston earlier this month.
The scientist was not allowed to enter the United States, Baptiste said, because his phone contained exchanges of messages with colleagues and friends in which he gave his « personal opinion » about President Trump’s scientific and research policies.
But Ms. McLaughlin rejected this evaluation. « Any statement that his retirement is based on political beliefs is blatantly false, » he said. Did not provide further details.
It was not clear when or as the scientist could have worked or interact with the Los Alamos laboratory, nm
The Los Alamos National Laboratory is known as a crucial place for the development of the atomic bomb.
Today, is a more important research facility for the National Nuclear Safety AdministrationBut he also performs scientific work other subjects. Jennifer Talalm, a laboratory spokesman, said he was « working with federal officials to understand more about the incident » that the scientist involved.
The scientist worked for the National Center for Scientific Research funded by France. The representatives of the center said he did not want to talk to the media, but did not respond immediately to the allegations of the National Security Department against him.
Nor did Mr. Baptiste’s office, which used to run the National French Space Studies Center before becoming Minister in 2024.
But on Friday, Mr. Baptiste repeated his statement that the scientist had been targeted due to private debates and opinions on Trump Administration’s policies.
He told her South Radio in an interview That he had not talked directly with the scientist, but his ministry was in contact with him.
« Each country is free to regulate its borders, » Mr. Baptiste acknowledged. But he said that the scientist’s case was « extraordinarily atypical » and a « subject of concern ».
This concern was shared by the French Academy of Sciences, which said in a statement On Thursday that the scientist’s deportation « seriously decreases the fundamental freedoms of the academic world: freedom of thought, expression and travel ».
Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed to reporting Washington, DC and Ségolène the Stradic of Paris.
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