Ashley Tellis, a well-known expert on US-India relations and a former adviser to several American administrations, has been arrested for allegedly keeping over a thousand pages of classified defense documents at his home. Court records show that the 64-year-old was charged with unlawful possession of national defense information after the FBI found top secret and secret documents during a search of his residence in Vienna, Virginia.
Tellis previously served on the National Security Council under former President George W. Bush and worked as an unpaid adviser to the US State Department, as well as a contractor for the Pentagon. He also held a senior fellowship at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank.
According to the FBI, Tellis was seen entering Defense and State Department offices in recent months, where he accessed and printed classified materials related to military aircraft capabilities. Agents said he was later seen leaving the buildings with a leather briefcase or bag. During a raid, authorities recovered more than a thousand pages of classified files from his home.
The investigation also revealed that Tellis had met several Chinese officials over the years. One meeting, held on September 15 at a restaurant in Virginia, raised suspicion when Tellis reportedly arrived with a manila envelope but left without it.
Officials confirmed that Tellis had top-level security clearance due to his roles with the Pentagon and State Department. The Justice Department stated that if found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
US Attorney Lindsey Halligan said the case highlights serious national security concerns, emphasizing that the government remains committed to protecting the country from internal and external threats.
