A member of Donald Trump's administration has hit out at a Belgian university for suspending an American member of staff who had been among the first to be critical of Jason Arday prior to the academic's tragic death.
Nathan Cofnas – a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University's Department of Philosophy and Moral Sciences – was at the heart of the row which saw the Cambridge professor resign from his post amid intense public scrutiny.
The 41-year-old sociology teacher was found dead at an address in Battersea, south London, last Friday.
Mr Cofnas confirmed his suspension from the Belgian institution in a social media post yesterday, having made allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of Mr Arday's achievements.
Ghent University confirmed it had suspended Mr Confas while a "discrimination" investigation ensued, adding the death of Mr Arday "should prompt reflection".
In light of the suspension, Bill White, the United States Ambassador to Belgium, wrote on X today: "The United States Mission to Belgium condemns, in the strongest terms, Ghent University’s retaliation against an American scholar following his accurate whistleblower reporting on academic fraud."
The US Government regularly funds and supports research, academic exchanges and other engagements with overseas universities.
However, Mr White added: "Dishonest, corrupt institutions that engage in, or reward, scapegoating mob behaviour are not desirable partners for us."
The ambassador continued: "This is particularly true where the purpose and effect of the scapegoating is to punish accurate journalism unearthing academic dishonesty. We are therefore reviewing any relationships we have with Ghent University.
"Bad-faith ideologues will try to make this a referendum on the content of Cofnas’s scholarship – or polemical distortions of it. That’s wrong. Free speech means that controversial views are protected."
Mr White added: "And Cofnas’s views were known to Ghent University when he was hired.
"The ultimate purpose of freedom of speech is to overturn lies, fraud and false ideologies.
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"This is precisely what Cofnas was doing, and precisely the reason his home institution wants to silence him. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
After news of Mr Arday's death broke, the Metropolitan Police said: "At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious."
Cambridge's Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news.
"Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."
Self-defined "race realist" Mr Cofnas was dismissed from his Cambridge role in 2024 and claimed to have uncovered numerous instances of plagiarism in Mr Arday's work.
He told The Times earlier this month: "We're talking about academia here.
"I didn't murder somebody.
"I think the cruelty that I've experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable."
In an updated statement, a spokesman for Ghent University said on Thursday: "Ghent University formally notified the staff member concerned of the launch of a preliminary disciplinary investigation.
"As part of this process, the university is assessing whether there are sufficient grounds to refer the case to the competent disciplinary body for further consideration.
"Pending this preliminary investigation, Ghent University has suspended the staff member as a precautionary measure.
"The university cannot comment further on the specific details of the disciplinary case or the underlying arguments, in order to safeguard the confidentiality of the personnel file and the disciplinary proceedings."
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
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