Wed Oct 15 10:00:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Ashley Tellis, a prominent foreign policy scholar, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully retaining national defense information. The FBI accuses Tellis of printing top secret documents at US government buildings he had access to and taking them away. A search of his home revealed over a thousand pages of classified documents. The FBI also suggests Tellis had multiple meetings with Chinese officials and implies he may have exchanged classified information for gifts. The investigation is ongoing, and Tellis, known for his earlier advocacy for stronger US-India ties, now faces serious charges that could lead to a lengthy prison sentence.
**News Article:**
**Former U.S.-India Policy Architect Arrested on Suspicion of Espionage**
Vienna, Virginia – Ashley Tellis, a once-celebrated foreign policy scholar known for his work bridging relations between the United States and India, was arrested this week at his Virginia home on charges of illegally retaining top secret national defense information.
An FBI affidavit outlines a months-long investigation into Tellis, alleging that he printed classified documents at U.S. government buildings and removed them. Authorities discovered over a thousand pages marked “Top Secret” or “Secret” during a search of his residence.
The FBI also claims Tellis met with Chinese government officials multiple times since 2022. While the affidavit avoids direct accusations of espionage, it suggests Tellis may have exchanged classified material for gifts during these meetings.
According to the affidavit, surveillance footage captured Tellis printing sensitive documents, including a 1,288-page Air Force manual, while working at the State Department. He’s also accused of concealing documents in a notepad at the Pentagon before taking them home.
Tellis, who faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, was once a leading voice advocating for closer US-India ties. However, in recent years, his stance shifted, leading some to suspect he may have been intentionally undermining India’s standing in Washington. The investigation remains ongoing.
First Piper 