US Ambassador Claims Role in Reinstating Ghent Academic

White, who previously threatened to sever ties with the institution, described the resolution as an amicable agreement that allows Cofnas to complete his postdoctoral appointment. The diplomat had earlier characterized the university’s initial decision to suspend the researcher as mob-driven scapegoating, positioning himself as a direct mediator in the dispute.

Contradicting this narrative, a Ghent University employee told EUobserver that the investigation into the matter remains active. According to this source, the ambassador’s intervention held no formal weight in the decision-making process, casting doubt on White’s claims of having secured the reinstatement personally.