Twenty-five years ago, Wen Ho Lee, a Taiwanese-American scientist, became the focus of one of the most high-profile espionage investigations in American history. Suspected of sharing critical nuclear secrets with China, Dr. Lee faced public condemnation, criminal charges, and solitary confinement. However, as the case unraveled, it revealed profound flaws in the investigation, culminating in a rare judicial apology and a public acknowledgment by President Bill Clinton that "the whole thing was quite troubling".

This pivotal moment in Asian-American legal history continues to offer important lessons for today’s legal, civil rights, and national security landscapes.

Jointly hosted by the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, this program will feature an in-depth exploration of United States v. Wen Ho Lee, with a critical look at the government’s investigation, the defense strategies that led to Dr. Lee’s eventual release, and the broader implications for justice and due process. Featuring Chicago practitioners and judges, this event will also include re-enactments of key moments from the case, including an interrogation that even senior government officials later admitted had gone too far.

This event is open to the public and will be followed by a reception. 1.5 hours of CLE will be offered (pending approval).

United States v. Wen Ho Lee – 25 Years Later Event Moderators

Stephen Chahn Lee, Solo Practitioner, AABA First Vice President, Former Federal Prosecutor

Stephen Chahn Lee is a solo practitioner focused on white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, and complex civil litigation. Before founding his own practice, Stephen served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois, where he handled a wide range of high-profile cases involving healthcare fraud, financial crimes, national security matters, and public corruption.

Currently the First Vice President of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (AABA), Stephen is an active leader in the legal community and a frequent speaker on topics related to government investigations, trial advocacy, and professional responsibility. He draws on his extensive government experience to defend individuals and organizations facing serious allegations, offering strategic and practical counsel in sensitive and high-stakes matters.

Stephen is a graduate of Yale College and Columbia Law School. He was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune before becoming a lawyer.

Vikas K. Didwania, Assistant U.S. Attorney, former Senior Policy Advisor for Criminal Justice at the White House

Vikas K. Didwania is a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, where he serves as Deputy Chief of Narcotics & Money Laundering and Acting Deputy Chief of Appeals. He was recently on leave from the US Attorney’s Office to serve, until January 2025, as a Senior Policy Advisor for Criminal Justice at the White House. As a prosecutor, Vikas has investigated and prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal cases concerning national security and terrorism, public corruption, complex fraud, violent crime, and narcotics trafficking. Before joining the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Vikas worked as a litigation associate and partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago and as a law clerk for Judge Pamela A. Rymer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Vikas is active in the legal community. He serves as an honorary board member of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (AABA) and is a member of the Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago program. Vikas graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago Law School.