Senior Advisor of the U.S. State Department Arrested

Accused of holding secret meetings with Chinese officials

Washington (U.S.) – Ashley Tellis, a senior advisor in the U.S. State Department, was arrested on October 12. He is an Indian-origin American citizen. According to media reports, he has been accused of possessing classified documents related to U.S. national security and holding secret meetings with Chinese officials.

1. The U.S. investigative agency FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) seized over 1,000 pages of documents from the 64-year-old Tellis’s home in Virginia. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 (approximately ₹2 crore).

2. The FBI stated that Tellis obtained classified documents from the State Department and the Department of Defense during September–October 2025. These documents reportedly contained information related to Air Force planning, new technologies, and fighter aircraft.

3. According to an affidavit filed in court, on September 15, 2022, Tellis was seen carrying a packet when he entered a restaurant, but he did not have it when he left.

4. During the meeting at the restaurant, he was overheard discussing U.S.–Pakistan, Iran–China, and other international relations with Chinese officials. He also received a red bag as a gift from them. This meeting raised suspicions of espionage activities against him.