In a development that has sent ripples through the corridors of Washington and beyond, Ashley Tellis—a prominent expert on U.S.-India relations and a respected voice in national security circles—has been arrested and charged with the unlawful retention of national defense information. Tellis, 64, a naturalized American citizen born in India, has served as a Pentagon contractor, an unpaid adviser to the State Department, and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His arrest, confirmed by multiple sources including Reuters, CNN, and the Associated Press, follows a sweeping investigation that uncovered more than a thousand pages of classified documents at his home in Vienna, Virginia.
The gravity of the charges is underscored by the sensitive nature of the materials found. According to an FBI affidavit cited by Reuters and CNN, the documents in question included top secret and secret information, some of which related to U.S. Air Force tactics, techniques, and military aircraft capabilities. The affidavit details that Tellis was observed as recently as September and October 2025 entering both Defense and State Department buildings, accessing and printing classified documents, and departing with a leather briefcase or bag. The subsequent search of his residence on October 11, 2025, revealed the cache of sensitive materials, many bearing the highest classification markings.
The story doesn’t end with the mishandling of documents. The FBI affidavit, referenced by CNN and AFP, alleges that Tellis met repeatedly with Chinese government officials over several years. These encounters reportedly included a dinner in April 2023 in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, as well as a September 15, 2025, dinner in Fairfax, Virginia. At the latter, Tellis arrived with a manila envelope, which he did not appear to take with him upon leaving—a detail that has raised eyebrows among investigators. During these meetings, Tellis was overheard discussing topics such as the Iran–China relationship and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. While the FBI affidavit does not specify whether classified information was directly shared with the Chinese officials, the circumstances have fueled concerns about the potential for leaks and foreign influence.
Tellis’s professional credentials are formidable. He served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and has advised successive U.S. administrations on matters of South Asian affairs, according to Reuters. His role as a contractor for the Office of Net Assessment (ONA)—the Pentagon’s in-house think tank for forecasting national security threats—placed him at the heart of U.S. defense strategy. Ironically, the ONA itself was slated for disbanding and restructuring by the Department of Defense in March 2025, a move intended to bolster internal security and analytical rigor.
Due to his positions, Tellis held a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information, a privilege that comes with immense responsibility and, as this case demonstrates, significant risk. The charges against him fall under 18 USC § 793(e), which governs the unlawful retention of national defense information. If convicted, Tellis faces up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a $100 special assessment, and the possibility of forfeiture. Actual sentences for federal crimes are often less than the statutory maximum, with the final decision resting with a federal district judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, has not minced words regarding the seriousness of the case. In a statement quoted by multiple outlets, Halligan said, “The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens.” She added, “We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
Tellis made his initial court appearance on October 14, 2025, with a detention hearing scheduled for October 21. At the time of reporting, his legal representation remained unclear, and both Tellis and his attorney declined to comment when approached by CNN. The State Department confirmed his arrest but offered no additional details, while the Pentagon also declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where Tellis is listed as a senior fellow, has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The case comes at a time of heightened sensitivity to foreign espionage and leaks of classified information. China, in particular, is viewed by American officials and private experts as one of the most significant counterintelligence challenges facing the United States today. The Justice Department’s recent prosecution of a U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, for selling Navy secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer, underscores the broader context in which the Tellis case is unfolding. That case resulted in a conviction for espionage and highlighted the persistent threat posed by foreign intelligence services seeking access to American secrets.
Analysts and expert publications suggest that the Tellis affair could serve as a catalyst for tightening controls over the handling and storage of classified information, especially regarding the interactions between government agencies and private contractors. The incident is also seen as a stark reminder of the need for coordination between the public and private sectors in safeguarding national security secrets. As noted in CNN and Reuters coverage, the Department of Defense’s move to restructure the ONA was, in part, a response to longstanding concerns about internal vulnerabilities and the risk of leaks.
Yet, for all the gravity of the charges, some questions remain unanswered. The FBI affidavit does not specify exactly what, if any, information may have been passed to Chinese officials, leaving open the possibility that the meetings, while suspicious, did not result in direct transmission of classified material. Nevertheless, the optics of a high-level adviser with access to sensitive information meeting repeatedly with representatives of a foreign power are, at a minimum, deeply troubling to officials tasked with protecting U.S. secrets.
As the legal process unfolds, eyes across Washington and the broader national security community will be watching closely. The Tellis case is not just about one man’s alleged missteps—it is a test of the systems designed to protect the United States from both internal and external threats. Whether it prompts meaningful reform or simply serves as a cautionary tale remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as a stark warning about the ever-present risks facing those entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive information.
