VOI World/ Desk
Indian-American strategic affairs expert Ashley Tellis has been charged by the US Department of Justice for unlawful retention of national defense information. He has not been accused of espionage. Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, previously held advisory roles in the US government.
An FBI affidavit states that investigators recovered more than a thousand pages marked Top Secret and Secret from his Virginia home. Authorities allege that he removed classified documents from secure government facilities, printed and re-saved them without authorization.
The investigation reportedly began after surveillance cameras showed Tellis mishandling sensitive files at secure facilities in September and October 2025. The affidavit also details multiple meetings between Tellis and Chinese officials over the years, including instances where envelopes and gift bags were exchanged. Topics of discussion at these meetings included US-China relations, emerging technologies, Iran-China ties and US-Pakistan issues.
While the meetings have raised eyebrows, experts note that foreign interactions are not unusual for a strategist of Tellis’s stature. Several analysts argue the case points more to carelessness than espionage.
Tellis has long been a prominent voice on India-US strategic relations. His article in Foreign Affairs, warning of India’s “great power delusions,” had drawn significant attention and debate in India’s policy circles. His current legal troubles are expected to be closely followed in both Washington and New Delhi.
