Indian-Origin US Scholar Ashley Tellis Denies Secret Document Charges

Ashley J. Tellis, a 64-year-old Indian-origin scholar and former senior advisor in the US government, has denied charges filed against him for allegedly retaining classified documents and meeting with Chinese officials. Tellis, who held key positions under former President George W. Bush and served as an unpaid advisor to the State Department, was arrested on Saturday and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Tellis’ lawyers, Deborah Curtis and John Nassikas, said in a statement that they would vigorously contest the allegations, emphasizing that any claims suggesting he was working on behalf of a foreign adversary were false. “Ashley J. Tellis is a widely respected scholar and senior policy advisor,” the lawyers added.

The criminal affidavit, made public on Tuesday, alleged that Tellis entered the State Department late on September 25 and appeared to print documents related to US Air Force techniques. It also claimed that Tellis had repeated meetings with Chinese officials at a restaurant in Fairfax, Virginia, during which he allegedly handed over a manila envelope.

The charges announced by the Justice Department focus primarily on improper handling of classified documents, rather than the meetings themselves. An FBI special agent confirmed that a search of Tellis’ home uncovered over 1,000 pages of secret or top-secret documents.

Tellis has had a long and distinguished career in policy and international affairs. He has been a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a leading Washington think tank, which announced that he has been placed on administrative leave following the arrest.

A naturalized American originally from India, Tellis was instrumental in negotiating the Bush administration’s civil nuclear cooperation deal with India, a historic step that strengthened ties between the world’s two largest democracies.

In recent years, Tellis has also been a prominent critic in Washington on several policy matters related to India, including its stance on Ukraine, asserting that New Delhi’s interests did not always align with US expectations.

The case has drawn significant attention due to Tellis’ stature in international policy circles and his role in shaping US-India relations over decades. As legal proceedings continue, the scholar’s defense team aims to challenge all allegations and clear his name from charges of mishandling classified information.