In wild hearing, lawyer for Harvard’s Petrova argues for dismissing federal smuggling case
Harvard’s Kseniia Petrova is one of causes at a protest of Trump administration policies April 12 at the university in Cambridge.
Harvard’s Kseniia Petrova was back in court Wednesday for a probable cause hearing to determine whether a criminal complaint against her should be dismissed.
The government’s one witness at the hearing, special agent Brian Goldsworthy, was unable to explain the meaning of “biological material” despite using it in his sworn affidavit supporting the criminal complaint. He was also unable to explain the meaning of “merchandise” when the crime Petrova is charged with, smuggling under 18 USC §545, criminalizes the introduction into the country of “any merchandise which should have been invoiced.”
This guy did not know the actually law he was charging Petrova with, which lead her to be detained for three months.