Former Bush adviser charged with amassing top secret files

"A prominent Indian-American academic and former US government adviser has been arrested and charged with the unlawful detention of national security information, including thousands of pages of top secret documents that were found at his home. Ashley Tellis, 64, who served on the national security council of the former US president George W Bush and is credited for helping to negotiate the US-India nuclear deal, was arrested and charged over the weekend."

"According to court documents, FBI agents searched his home in Virginia and found thousands of pages of classified and top secret records. Due to his employment with the state department and the Pentagon, Tellis had a top secret security clearance. Tellis is alleged to have entered the US state department and a defence department facility and to have printed on government computers, or asked a colleague to print, classified documents on topics including US military aircraft capabilities."

"The FBI has also accused Tellis of meeting Chinese officials on multiple occasions over the years and handing over documents in an envelope. Tellis has denied the charges. In a statement, his lawyers said: Ashley J Tellis is a widely respected scholar and senior policy adviser. We will be vigorously contesting the allegations brought against him, specifically any insinuation of his operating on behalf of a foreign adversary."

Ashley Tellis, 64, was arrested and charged with the unlawful detention of national security information after thousands of pages of classified and top secret records were found at his Virginia home. Tellis previously served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and helped negotiate the US-India nuclear deal. Court documents state FBI agents searched his home; his State Department and Pentagon employment gave him top-secret clearance. He is accused of printing classified documents on government computers or having colleagues print them and of meeting Chinese officials and handing over documents. Tellis has denied the charges and his lawyers say they will vigorously contest the allegations. His arrest prompted political reaction in India.

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