Ashley Tellis, a prominent Indian-American expert on U.S. foreign policy and a long-time advisor on South Asia, finds himself at the center of a legal and political storm. The 64-year-old was arrested over the weekend and charged with illegally retaining national defense information and allegedly meeting with Chinese government officials. The charges have sent shockwaves through Washington's foreign policy circles, where Tellis has been a respected voice for decades.
Born in Mumbai, Tellis is a naturalized U.S. citizen with a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He has served as an advisor to the State Department since 2001 and has held advisory roles across multiple administrations, both Republican and Democratic. His expertise on India, South Asia, and U.S. foreign policy made him a valuable asset in Washington, where he served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and was involved in the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement. He is also listed as a Pentagon contractor and an unpaid State Department advisor in the FBI affidavit. Additionally, Tellis is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.
The Justice Department alleges that Tellis unlawfully retained national defense information, including over 1,000 pages of top secret and secret documents. The documents were discovered during a search of his home in Vienna, Virginia, scattered across various locations, including locked cabinets, trash bags, and his basement office. According to court filings, Tellis allegedly accessed, printed, and removed classified material from both Defense and State Department buildings in September and October 2025. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him leaving one facility with a leather briefcase after printing classified files related to U.S. military aircraft capabilities.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case are allegations that Tellis met with Chinese officials on multiple occasions. Prosecutors say that Tellis had multiple meetings with Chinese government officials over the past several years. These meetings, including a September 2025 dinner in Fairfax, Virginia, are under scrutiny. Reportedly, Tellis was seen carrying a manila envelope into the meeting but not leaving with it. Another meeting in April 2023 involved discussions about Iranian-Chinese relations and emerging technologies.
The FBI affidavit indicates that Tellis held a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information due to his government roles. Investigators say Tellis cooperated during the search, unlocking a laptop with his fingerprint and providing keys to the filing cabinets.
U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan stated that the charges "represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens". If convicted, Tellis faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has not commented on the arrest. A State Department official confirmed Tellis's arrest but offered no further details, and the Pentagon stated it does not comment on active investigations.
The arrest comes amid what is described as the Trump administration's intensified crackdown on the mishandling of classified information. The director of national intelligence has vowed to pursue prosecutions “without exception".
