Washington, DC: Ashley J Tellis, a renowned foreign policy scholar and defense strategist of Indian origin, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully retaining classified national defense information, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Tellis, 64, 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. Prosecutors allege that Tellis violated 18 USC § 793(e), which prohibits unauthorized possession or retention of defense-related documents.
Investigators are also looking into allegations of Tellis removing classified documents from secure locations and meeting with Chinese officials.
US Attorney Lindsey Halligan announced the charges in a press release, stating 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 fine of $250,000, and forfeiture of the materials involved. The government emphasized that the complaint is an accusation and that Tellis remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to media reports, investigators are also examining Tellis's alleged interactions with Chinese officials during professional and academic exchanges. While there is no suggestion of espionage at this stage, prosecutors assert that his retention of classified materials breached federal security protocols.
