State Department staff are reportedly facing charges for allegedly taking classified documents from secure sites and engaging with Chinese officials as far back as 2023.
According to the Justice Department, Ashley Tellis served as an unpaid senior adviser for the State Department and worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense’s Net Assessment Agency, now under the Department of the Army. He’s recognized as an expert on India and South Asian relations.
Tellis’s tenure at the State Department began in 2001, as detailed in court documents. He is accused of improperly retaining national defense information.
Federal prosecutors noted that he had top-secret clearance and access to classified materials. He previously held a position as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Authorities discovered over 1,000 pages of “Top Secret” and “Secret” documents during a search of his residence in Vienna, Virginia.
On September 12, he allegedly had a colleague print several classified documents at a government facility. Further, on September 25, he reportedly printed a U.S. Air Force document on military aircraft capabilities. Prosecutors claim he met with Chinese government officials on numerous occasions in recent years.
For instance, in September 2022, he was seen meeting with Chinese officials at a restaurant in Virginia, carrying a manila envelope. In another meeting on April 11, 2023, he was overheard discussing Iran-China relations and emerging technology with a Chinese official while dining.
He is also said to have received a gift bag at a dinner with Chinese officials on September 2, which further raises eyebrows regarding his connections.
Fox News Digital has sought commentary from the State Department, the Department of the Army, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
This is an evolving story, and updates will follow.
