Ashley J Tellis Arrested: Top US-India Policy Expert Charged with Unlawful Retention of Classified Documents:

Washington, D.C. – Ashley J Tellis, a prominent Indian-American foreign policy expert and widely respected figure in the field of U.S.-India strategic relations, has been arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of classified national defense information. The arrest was confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia over the weekend. Tellis, 64, is a senior fellow and holds the prestigious Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His arrest follows a federal investigation into the alleged mishandling of sensitive government materials, including national security documents. According to federal prosecutors, Tellis has been charged under 18 U.S. Code § 793(e) – a section of the Espionage Act that prohibits unauthorized retention or transmission of information related to national defense. The statute is often invoked in cases involving classified documents that are removed or stored outside secure government facilities. Allegations Include Improper Handling of Classified Information Prosecutors allege that Tellis unlawfully retained classified documents at locations not authorized for their storage and may have removed them from secure government facilities. Additionally, investigators are reportedly examining Tellis’s interactions with Chinese officials during academic and professional exchanges, though there is no formal accusation of espionage at this time. “This conduct, if proven, represents a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in an official statement. She emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that Tellis, like all defendants, remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, Tellis could face up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and the forfeiture of any classified material found in his possession. Who is Ashley J Tellis? Ashley J Tellis is considered one of Washington’s leading authorities on South Asian security and U.S.-India relations. Over a distinguished career spanning decades, he has played critical roles in shaping American foreign policy toward the Indo-Pacific region. Tellis served as a senior adviser to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and was a key architect of the landmark U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. During the George W. Bush administration, he also worked on the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Strategic Planning and Southwest Asia. Before entering government service, Tellis was a senior policy analyst and professor at the RAND Corporation. His academic contributions are extensive and influential, including major publications such as Striking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia and Revising U.S. Grand Strategy Toward China. He remains affiliated with elite policy institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. What Happens Next? A federal judge is expected to review bond conditions and set the terms of Tellis’s release later this week. While details about the exact nature of the documents involved remain under seal, the case raises serious questions about document security and oversight, especially involving individuals with long-standing access to high-level intelligence. The Carnegie Endowment has yet to release a formal statement in response to the charges. Tellis's arrest marks a significant development in Washington’s ongoing scrutiny of classified information protocols — particularly involving experts who straddle the worlds of academia and government policymaking.

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