Indian-Origin Strategic Expert Ashley Tellis Arrested In US Over China Links
Ashley Tellis Arrested In US for retaining classified documents and meeting Chinese officials, facing serious national security charges.
Indian-Origin Strategic Expert Ashley Tellis Arrested In US Over China Links and Hoarding Secret Documents
In a shocking development, Indian-origin US scholar Ashley Tellis has been arrested for allegedly retaining classified information and engaging with Chinese officials. The arrest, announced by US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, marks a rare high-profile case involving sensitive national defence information. Tellis, 64, of Vienna, is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 793(e) for the unlawful retention of national defence information.
The State Department confirmed that Tellis was apprehended on October 11, the very day he was scheduled to fly to Rome. Halligan emphasized the gravity of the charges, stating that they represent a significant threat to the safety and security of American citizens. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served,” she added.
If convicted, Tellis faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and potential forfeiture of assets. However, actual sentences for federal crimes typically fall below the maximum, with a federal judge determining penalties based on US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges against Tellis revolve around his retention of more than 1,000 pages of top-secret and secret documents at his residence. According to a criminal affidavit cited by AFP, Tellis, who served as an unpaid advisor at the State Department, was caught printing from a classified document on US Air Force techniques on September 25.
Moreover, Tellis reportedly met multiple times with Chinese officials in Fairfax, Virginia. On one occasion, he arrived with a manila envelope but did not leave with it, while on two other occasions, he received gift bags from the Chinese officials. These interactions have raised concerns about the potential compromise of sensitive US national security information.
Ashley Tellis is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and has been a prominent scholar on international security and US foreign policy. Originally from India, he served in the US Foreign Service and was a senior adviser to the ambassador at the US Embassy in New Delhi. His work has focused on Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and he played a key role in the US-India civil nuclear deal during the George W. Bush administration.
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Over the past several years, Tellis became known as a vocal critic in Washington, often questioning US engagement strategies with India. In a recent Foreign Affairs essay, he highlighted India’s relations with Russia and Iran, arguing that India might not match China’s growing influence in the near future. His perspectives, however, have now been overshadowed by the serious legal allegations facing him.
The arrest of Ashley Tellis has sent ripples across the international policy and security community, emphasizing the strict enforcement of laws related to the handling of classified information. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of his interactions with foreign officials and any potential compromises to US national security.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with retaining sensitive information without proper authorization and the legal consequences that follow. The coming weeks are likely to see further developments as the investigation progresses and as the US judicial system determines the next steps in prosecuting this high-profile case.
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