Temple Professor’s Claims Revived Over Wrongful Spying Arrest

The former chair of Temple University’s physics department may proceed with claims that the federal government violated his constitutional rights by wrongly arresting and charging him with spying for China, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reinstated Xiaoxing Xi’s claims that the government investigated, searched, and prosecuted him without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Xi may proceed against the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which waives sovereign immunity for the negligent acts of its employees, Judge Cheryl Ann Krause said.

The trial court got it wrong ...