Ashley Tellis, a well-known U.S. expert in India–U.S. relations, has been arrested and charged with improperly holding national defense documents, according to U.S. prosecutors. He is also alleged to have met with officials from China.
At 64 years old, Tellis is a naturalized American who was born in India and has advised government bodies for decades. He currently holds a senior fellowship role at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and previously served on the U.S. National Security Council under President George W. Bush.
Court documents claim that Tellis accessed secure government networks, printed classified files at both the Department of State and the Department of Defense, and later stored more than a thousand pages of these documents at his home. In one instance, he allegedly entered a State Department building late at night, renamed a secret-level document, and printed portions of it. Video surveillance and forensic tracing are cited among the evidence.
The charges fall under U.S. law that prohibits retention or disclosure of national defense information without authorization. If convicted, Tellis could face up to ten years in prison and significant fines.
Allegations in the affidavit also include repeated meetings with Chinese officials over the past several years. In one meeting, he is said to have carried a manilla envelope when entering a restaurant and left without it, raising questions about the transfer of material. Investigators emphasize that while meetings took place, they have not formally accused him of transmitting classified information to foreign parties.
Tellis has denied wrongdoing. His legal team says he is a respected scholar and adviser who will vigorously contest the charges. Meanwhile, he has been placed on administrative leave from his role at Carnegie. A detention hearing is scheduled for mid-October.
