A State Department employee has been charged with removing classified documents from a secure facility and meeting with Chinese officials since 2023, Fox News reported on Tuesday, the 14th.

The Department of Justice stated that Ashley Tellis was an unpaid senior advisor to the State Department and a contractor for the Office of Net Assessment under the Department of Defense (recently renamed the Department of War). In his role at the Office of Net Assessment, he is recognized as a subject matter expert on India and South Asian affairs.

According to court documents, Tellis began his employment at the State Department in 2001. An affidavit states that he has been charged with the unauthorized possession of national defense information.

Federal prosecutors stated in court documents that he held a Top Secret clearance and had access to sensitive information. He was also employed as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

According to court filings, authorities discovered over a thousand documents marked "Top Secret" and "Secret" while searching his residence in Vienna, Virginia.

Authorities allege that on September 12, Tellis requested a fellow employee at a government facility to print several classified documents for him.

On September 25, he was accused of printing documents related to the performance of U.S. Air Force military aircraft. Federal prosecutors believe he has met with Chinese government officials multiple times over the past several years.

In September 2022, prosecutors stated, he met with Chinese officials at a restaurant in Virginia, carrying a yellow envelope.

During a meeting on April 11, 2023, authorities reported that Tellis and the Chinese officials were seen dining at a restaurant and discussing Iran-China relations and new technologies.

According to court documents, he also received a gift bag during a dinner with Chinese officials on September 2.

Newly appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Holigan has charged Tellis.

NNP USA = Representative Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special Correspondent for this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com