Prosecutors move to drop charges against scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos

The Trump administration has moved to drop charges against a Harvard University researcher accused of illegally smuggling frog embryos into the United States.

Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist, was detained and threatened with deportation after she did not declare the items when going through customs at the airport, an infraction her lawyers argued would normally be a minor violation.

But the Trump administration canceled her visa and sought to deport her during the height of its campaign targeting foreign students and faculty at universities.

In its latest petition, the government said it is dropping charges after the defense won a broad discovery that would force the Trump administration to hand over information about other cases similar to Petrova’s.

“The discovery order also grants the defendant’s requests for policies and procedures concerning CBP’s [Customs and Border Protection] border inspections, some of which contain non-public information about CBP operations and investigative techniques,” the petition reads.

“The government anticipates that additional discovery disputes and litigation of a motion to dismiss would divert significant time and attention from more substantial federal interests,” the government said, adding the “costs of continuing this prosecution outweigh the public interest in its resolution.”

The Hill has reached out to Petrova’s representation for comment.

In a statement to The New York Times , Petrova’s attorney William Fick said, “Throughout these proceedings, Ms. Petrova has shown tremendous courage, and we are relieved that this chapter of her terrible ordeal will soon be over.