Vienna, Virginia, USA: US Adviser Arrested Over Classified Documents to Challenge Charges, Lawyers Say

Ashley Tellis, the U.S. government adviser, plans to dispute allegations in a case involving sensitive documents while rejecting suggestions of connections to foreign governments.

Ashley Tellis, 64, a prominent expert on U.S.-India relations and former adviser to the National Security Council under President George W. Bush, was taken into custody over the weekend. He was formally charged on October 13 with "unlawful retention of national defence information," according to court records. Tellis has also been identified in an FBI affidavit as an unpaid consultant for the State Department and a contractor for the Pentagon

The FBI affidavit states that in September and October, Tellis was seen accessing and printing classified material at Pentagon and State Department offices, including documents detailing military aircraft capabilities.

Authorities also reported that a search of Tellis’ Vienna, Virginia, residence on October 11 uncovered over a thousand pages of documents marked as “top secret” or “secret.”

Additionally, the affidavit notes that Tellis met with Chinese government officials on several occasions. One instance cited was a September 15 dinner, during which Tellis reportedly brought a manila envelope that was no longer in his possession when he left.

In a statement, his attorneys, Deborah Curtis and John Nassikas of Arnold & Porter, described Tellis as a "widely respected scholar and senior policy advisor." They emphasised that at an October 14 hearing in the Eastern District of Virginia, and through related court filings, they will "vigorously dispute the charges against him, particularly any claims suggesting he acted on behalf of a foreign adversary."

Tellis also serves as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. Carnegie confirmed on October 15 that he is currently on administrative leave.

The prosecution has been led by Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney. Some former federal prosecutors have expressed concern that Halligan's involvement in high-profile cases, including actions against New York Attorney General Letitia James and ex-FBI Director James Comey, could indicate political motivations.

The Department of Justice has stated that if convicted, Tellis could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.