Renowned Indian-origin foreign policy scholar and defence strategist Ashley J Tellis has been arrested in the United States for allegedly unlawfully retaining classified national defence information, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Tellis, 64, currently a senior fellow and Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was taken into custody over the weekend following a federal investigation into his handling of restricted government material. Authorities allege that Tellis violated 18 USC § 793(e), which prohibits unauthorised possession or retention of defence-related documents.
Investigators are reportedly examining claims that Tellis removed classified documents from secure locations and had meetings with Chinese officials. US Attorney Lindsey Halligan emphasized that the alleged conduct posed a “grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens.”
If convicted, Tellis could face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and forfeiture of the materials involved. The US government has stressed that these are allegations, and Tellis is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Profile: Ashley J Tellis
Ashley Tellis is widely recognized as one of Washington’s leading experts on South Asian security and US-India relations. His distinguished career includes:
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Serving as special assistant to President George W. Bush on the National Security Council.
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Acting as senior adviser to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, contributing to the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement negotiations.
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Holding positions as a senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia.
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Extensive research and publications, including books such as Striking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia and Revising US Grand Strategy Toward China.
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Membership in prestigious institutions, including the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Reports indicate that prosecutors are also reviewing Tellis’s interactions with Chinese officials during professional and academic exchanges. While there is currently no claim of espionage, authorities maintain that retaining classified materials violated federal security protocols.
A federal judge will determine bond conditions later this week as the case proceeds.
