Ashley Tellis, top US expert on India, placed on leave by Carnegie after arrest over classified documents

Ashley Tellis - File Photo

Ashley Tellis, a prominent US expert on India and adviser to several administrations, has been placed on administrative leave as Tata Chair at Carnegie Endowment after being arrested and charged with allegedly possessing classified national defence materials, and for his alleged links with Chinese officials.

“We are aware of the allegations against Ashley J. Tellis. He is now on administrative leave, including from his role as Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs,” said Katelynn Vogt, Vice President for Communications at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Ashley Tellis was arrested over the weekend and charged on Monday with unlawfully keeping classified material. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Tellis is also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.

The announcement of his arrest was made by US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, who said 64-year-old Tellis of Vienna has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with the unlawful retention of national defence information, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 793(e).

“We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said US Attorney Halligan.

Trump administration officials, including DNI Tulsi Gabbard, vowed strict action against anyone mishandling classified information.

The FBI affidavit said that in September and October, Tellis accessed and printed classified Defense and State Department documents on military aircraft and left with them in a briefcase. A search of his Virginia home found over 1,000 pages marked Top Secret or Secret.

The affidavit also noted Tellis met with Chinese officials multiple times, including on September 15 in Fairfax, Virginia, carrying a manila envelope he later no longer had. He held a Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information.