Top US India Expert Ashley Tellis Charged with Espionage for China

Prominent foreign policy expert Ashley Tellis has been arrested on espionage charges. Federal authorities allege he illegally retained over 1,000 pages of top secret documents. The charges also state he held numerous meetings with Chinese government officials.

The case has sent shockwaves through Washington’s national security community. Tellis was considered a leading authority on US-India relations.

Classified Documents Found in Home Search

According to an FBI affidavit, a court-authorized search of Tellis’s Virginia home uncovered the classified materials. The documents were marked top secret and secret. They were found in locked filing cabinets and black rubbish bags.

The search occurred on October 11. Tellis was scheduled to travel to Rome with his family that same evening.

Tellis held a top secret security clearance. He worked as an unpaid senior adviser at the State Department. He also served as a contractor for the Department of Defense.

Alleged Meetings with Chinese Officials Detailed

The criminal complaint details multiple meetings between Tellis and Chinese officials. These encounters allegedly occurred from September 2022 to September 2025. They took place at restaurants in Fairfax, Virginia.

According to Reuters reporting on the case, surveillance captured one meeting in September 2022. Tellis allegedly arrived with a manila envelope that he did not have when he left.

Conversations reportedly covered Iranian-Chinese relations and artificial intelligence. Discussions also included US-Pakistan relations. During one meeting, Chinese officials gave Tellis a red gift bag.

Surveillance Captured Document Handling

Federal investigators used surveillance to monitor Tellis’s activities. Video from September 25 shows him accessing classified systems at the State Department. He allegedly printed hundreds of pages from a 1,288-page file on US Air Force tactics.

The affidavit states he renamed the file “Econ Reform” before printing selected pages. He then deleted the file after printing.

Additional footage from October 10 allegedly shows Tellis concealing classified documents inside notepads. He then placed them in his leather briefcase before leaving a secure facility.

The charges against Ashley Tellis represent a significant breach of national security protocols. The Ashley Tellis espionage case continues to develop as more information emerges from court documents.

Thought you’d like to know

Who is Ashley Tellis?

Ashley Tellis is a senior foreign policy expert specializing in South Asian affairs. He played a key role in the US-India civil nuclear deal talks. He has advised multiple US government agencies and presidents.

What specific charges does he face?

Tellis is charged with unlawfully retaining national defense information. The charges stem from classified documents found at his home. He is also under investigation for meetings with Chinese officials.

Where were the classified documents discovered?

Investigators found the materials during a search of his Vienna, Virginia home. Documents were located in locked filing cabinets and storage bags. The search was conducted on October 11.

How significant is this security breach?

The discovery of over 1,000 pages of classified material represents a major breach. Tellis had top secret clearance with access to sensitive compartmented information. The case is being treated with extreme seriousness by national security officials.

What was Tellis’s government role?

He served as an unpaid senior adviser at the State Department. He also worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment. His expertise focused on India and South Asian affairs.

Trusted Sources: FBI Court Affidavit, Reuters, Associated Press, Hindustan Times