US State Department Adviser Accused of Stealing Classified Documents, Meeting Chinese Officials
A senior US State Department adviser has been charged with unlawfully removing classified documents and holding multiple meetings with Chinese government officials since 2022, according to federal prosecutors.
Key Details of the Case
- Ashley Tellis served as unpaid State Department adviser and Pentagon contractor
- Over 1,000 pages of TOP SECRET/SECRET documents recovered from his Virginia home
- Multiple meetings with Chinese officials documented between 2022-2023
- Case involves sensitive military and defense information
Background and Positions
Ashley Tellis began his government service in 2001 and held a top-secret security clearance. He served as an unpaid senior adviser to the State Department while simultaneously working as a contractor for the Office of Net Assessment at the Department of Defense. Tellis was recognized as a subject-matter expert on India and South Asian affairs and also worked as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Document Removal Allegations
Federal investigators allege Tellis systematically removed classified materials. On September 12, he reportedly asked a coworker to print multiple classified documents at a government facility. Later on September 25, he allegedly printed US Air Force documents concerning military aircraft capabilities.
Meetings with Chinese Officials
Court documents reveal multiple encounters with Chinese representatives:
- September 2022: Met Chinese officials at a Virginia restaurant while carrying a manila envelope
- April 11, 2023: Discussed Iranian-Chinese relations and emerging technologies during dinner meetings
- September 2: Received a gift bag during another dinner meeting with Chinese officials
Ongoing Investigation
The Justice Department continues to investigate the case, emphasizing the highly sensitive nature of the documents recovered from Tellis’s residence. Federal prosecutors have charged him with unlawful retention of national defense information.
