Tue Oct 14 20:02:46 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Ashley Tellis, a former State Department senior advisor and Department of Defense contractor with expertise in India and South Asian affairs, has been accused of unlawfully retaining national defense information. He allegedly removed classified documents from secure government locations, held multiple meetings with Chinese officials, and had over a thousand pages of classified documents discovered at his home. The Justice Department is investigating the case.
**News Article:**
**U.S. Expert on India Accused of Sharing Classified Information with China**
**Washington, D.C. – October 15, 2025** – Ashley Tellis, a former U.S. State Department senior advisor and contractor for the Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense), is under investigation for the unlawful retention of national defense information and alleged contact with Chinese officials. The accusations, outlined in court documents, raise serious concerns about potential breaches of national security.
Tellis, considered an expert on India and South Asian affairs, reportedly held a top-secret security clearance, granting him access to highly sensitive information. Federal prosecutors allege that Tellis began removing classified documents from secure government locations as early as 2023. A search of his residence in Vienna, Virginia, yielded over a thousand pages of documents marked TOP SECRET and SECRET.
According to court filings, Tellis also printed classified U.S. Air Force documents related to military aircraft capabilities as recently as September 2025. More concerning are allegations that Tellis held multiple meetings with Chinese government representatives over the past few years. These meetings reportedly involved discussions on Iranian-Chinese relations, emerging technologies, and even the exchange of gifts.
“The Justice Department is taking this case very seriously,” stated a source familiar with the investigation. “The nature of the classified documents recovered and the alleged meetings with Chinese officials raise significant concerns about potential compromise of national security.”
The investigation is ongoing, and the full extent of Tellis’s alleged actions is still being determined. The case has sparked debate within U.S. political circles, particularly regarding the vetting processes for individuals with access to classified information. The implications for U.S. foreign policy and relations with both India and China remain to be seen.
First Piper 