Ashley Tellis, a prominent US-India relations expert who has advised multiple US administrations, has been arrested for unlawful retention of classified national defense documents, according to court filings. The 64-year-old, who served on the National Security Council under former President George W. Bush and worked as an unpaid adviser to the State Department and Pentagon contractor, faces serious legal consequences.

The FBI affidavit revealed that Tellis accessed and printed over a thousand pages of secret and top-secret documents from the Defense and State Department offices in September and October 2025. These documents reportedly included sensitive information on military aircraft capabilities. During the investigation, authorities discovered the documents in Tellis’ Vienna, Virginia residence, many bearing classified markings.

Tellis is also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a major Washington think tank. Court records note that he met with Chinese officials on several occasions in recent years, raising further security concerns.

A Justice Department statement emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that if convicted, Tellis could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan remarked, “The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens. We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic.”

The arrest highlights ongoing US government efforts to safeguard sensitive defense and foreign policy information, particularly in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions. Tellis’ extensive experience in US-India relations and defense policy makes the case especially notable for international affairs analysts and national security experts.