Prominent Indian-origin scholar Ashley J. Tellis, aged 64, has denied all charges against him after being arrested in the United States for allegedly keeping classified government documents and meeting with Chinese officials. Tellis, a well-known foreign policy expert, faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
Tellis, who previously served in senior roles under former U.S. President George W. Bush, has been a respected figure in Washington’s policy circles. He was also an unpaid advisor to the U.S. State Department and played a key role in the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal, which strengthened ties between the two countries.
According to a criminal affidavit released on Tuesday, Tellis allegedly entered the State Department on September 25 and printed pages from a classified document related to U.S. Air Force techniques. The report also mentioned his meetings with Chinese officials in a restaurant in Fairfax, Virginia, and claimed he once left a manila envelope at the venue.
However, Tellis’s lawyers, Deborah Curtis and John Nassikas, strongly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, they said, “Ashley J. Tellis is a widely respected scholar and senior policy advisor. We will be vigorously contesting the allegations, especially any suggestion that he acted for a foreign adversary.”
The Justice Department said that the case mainly concerns the improper handling of secret documents. During an FBI search, over 1,000 pages of classified material were reportedly found in Tellis’s home.
Tellis, who works as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. Born in India and now a U.S. citizen, Tellis has been known for his independent views on India’s foreign policy, often differing from mainstream U.S. positions.
The case has drawn attention in diplomatic and academic circles worldwide, given Tellis’s long-standing role in shaping U.S.-India relations.
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