Top U.S. Diplomat Arrested for Alleged Mishandling of Classified Documents

On October 15, 2025, Ashley J. Tellis, a renowned India-born American foreign policy expert, was arrested after federal agents charged him with unlawfully retaining classified defense documents. Court filings allege that Tellis, who has held senior positions in the U.S. government and policy circles, removed sensitive materials from secure facilities and stored them at his residence in Virginia.

The Department of Justice has accused Tellis of accessing classified U.S. Department of Defense and State Department files, printing hundreds of pages, and deleting the digital records. Authorities also claim to have evidence of Tellis attending a secure Pentagon briefing while carrying a leather briefcase and placing printed pages into notepads.

During the search of Tellis's home, FBI agents recovered more than 1,000 pages marked top secret or secret from filing cabinets, a desk drawer, and trash bags in the basement. Prosecutors have charged him under a statute that criminalizes the unauthorized retention of national defense information, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

The criminal complaint also documents multiple meetings between Tellis and officials associated with China at restaurants and private gatherings in Virginia between 2022 and 2025. While no classified material was recovered from these meetings, the authorities consider them to be a concerning development.

Tellis, who has been a prominent analyst of Asian security and U.S.-India relations, is currently free on bond as the case continues to be investigated and prepared for potential trial. The Justice Department has stated that if convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.