A State Department employee has been arrested and is accused of removing classified documents from secure government facilities and meeting with Chinese officials, Fox News reports. Ashley Tellis, 64, was an unpaid senior adviser at the State Department, which handles U.S. foreign policy, and also worked as a contractor with the Office of Net Assessment (ONA) at the Department of Defense.
Tellis is now accused of unlawfully keeping classified documents, which he was not authorized to store outside of secure government facilities, a serious federal crime. These types of documents could be protected under the Espionage Act, and mishandling them can lead to criminal charges and prison time.
Asked for comment, a Pentagon official told Straight Arrow News, “As a matter of longstanding policy, the Department does not comment on ongoing litigation.”
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Tellis held a top-secret security clearance, according to Fox News, and was also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank.
Authorities searched his Virginia home and discovered more than 1,000 pages of classified documents. Some were labeled “TOP SECRET” and “SECRET,” the two highest levels of classification, according to Fox News.
Prosecutors detail alleged timeline and classified material requests
Prosecutors alleged that on Sept. 12, Tellis asked a co-worker to print classified materials at a government facility. Then, on Sept. 25, Tellis printed classified U.S. Air Force documents related to military aircraft capabilities.
Federal prosecutors claim that Tellis maintained ongoing contact with Chinese government officials through meetings over several years.
Fox News reports that Tellis, while holding a manila envelope, met with Chinese officials at a restaurant in Virginia in September 2022. He also met with Chinese officials in April 2023 and was allegedly overheard discussing sensitive topics like “Iranian-Chinese relations and emerging technologies.” Tellis also allegedly received a gift bag from Chinese officials during a dinner in September 2023.
Potential penalties and official response
“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,” U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan said in a statement. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
If Tellis is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a $100 special assessment and forfeiture.
Straight Arrow News has reached out to the Department of Justice and the Department of State for comment.
