DOE employee charged with trying to aid Iran-backed Houthis, feds say
A U.S.Department of Energy worker from Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to provide "material support" to the Iran-backed Houthis, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, is accused of attempting to use his electrical engineering knowledge and background to support the terrorist group in improving its mobile communications infrastructure, secure components for drones as well as chemicals for homemade explosives."As alleged, a U.S.
government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A.Eisenberg said in a statement."Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives.
These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination."IRAN’S PROXY WAR HAS CROSSED OCEANS AND IS NOW KNOCKING ON AMERICA’S DOORA Houthi follower looks on, during a pro-Iran demonstration, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, in Sanaa, Yemen April 6, 2026.(Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)Federal authorities took Ellaboudy into custody following an investigation by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force.According to court records, Ellaboudy first attracted the FBI’s attention after buying precursor chemicals, or starting ingredients, and components that are often used in homemade explosives, as well as parts to make drones.The DOJ said that in 2024, Ellaboudy took sick leave from his Department of Energy job and said he had been exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid — a key chemical compound used in explosive manufacturing.FBI OFFERS $200K REWARD FOR FORMER AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE AGENT ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR IRANHouthi supporters demonstrate in solidarity with Iran, amid a two-week ceasefire between U.S.
and Iran, in Sanaa, Yeme...