Ashley Tellis, a prominent Indian-American strategic affairs expert has denied charges that he unlawfully retained national defence information and met with Chinese officials, his lawyers said on Wednesday.

Tellis, 64, a respected voice in Washington’s foreign policy establishment who held senior positions under former president George W Bush and has served as an unpaid adviser to the US State Department, was arrested on Saturday . If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to USD 250,000, a USD 100 special assessment, and forfeiture.

"Ashley J. Tellis is a widely respected scholar and senior policy advisor," his lawyers, Deborah Curtis and John Nassikas, said in a statement.

"We will be vigorously contesting the allegations brought against him, specifically any ins

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