The Aporia · Energy Department employee charged with attempting to support Houthis

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old Department of Energy employee from Washington state, was charged with attempting to support the Houthis by acquiring materials for explosives and drones and improving their communications. In September 2025, he used an official passport to travel from Richland through Oman to Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, claiming his trip was on official government business when returning to the U.S., which his supervisor denied. Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg described these actions as “deeply disturbing.” Ellaboudy faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Written by AI on 2026-10-01, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old Department of Energy employee from Richland, Washington, was arrested by the FBI on charges of attempting to provide support to the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen. The DOJ alleges that Ellaboudy bought materials for homemade explosives and drones and attempted to improve the Houthis' communications capabilities. In September 2025, he traveled from Richland through Oman into Yemen, claiming on his return to U.S. Customs and Border Protection that his trip was part of a government mission, which his supervisor denied knowledge of.

The FBI's investigation revealed Ellaboudy used an official passport from his time in the Army Corps of Engineers for the unauthorized travel and made plans through contacts claiming to be Houthi officials to smuggle communications equipment into Yemen. Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg described these actions as "deeply disturbing." The case highlights the potential risks posed by government employees engaging in activities that support designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Written for “DOE Employee Charged For Houthis Support” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 DOE Employee Charged For Houthis Support

Crime & Law · 6 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

This article reads unscored and hedges 12% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

DOE employee charged with trying to aid Iran-backed Houthis, feds say Same event

Fox News

Hedges 5 of 18 claims Outlet record 68/100

FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen Same event

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DOE employee arrested by FBI for allegedly trying to support Houthis in Yemen Same event

CBS News

Hedges 0 of 15 claims Outlet record 65/100

FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen Same event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 66/100

FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen Same event

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Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old resident of Richland, Washington, is accused of helping the foreign terrorist organization by acquiring materials for homemade explosives and drones and by trying to improve the Iran proxy’s communications capabilities.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-01

🔮 During the FBI investigation that led to his arrest, Ellaboudy was in contact with an informant who claimed to be working for a Houthi “colonel” to acquire communications equipment that would be shipped to Yemen to be used in a mobile communications center.

2026-10-01 · Washington Examiner

Energy Department employee charged with attempting to support Houthis · assertive framing

An employee for the Department of Energy was charged with allegedly attempting to provide material support or resources to the Houthis, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday. uncertain

Department → charge → Thursday

Ellaboudy → accuse → capabilities

The DOJ also alleges the U.S. government employee traveled to Yemen with the intent to visit the Houthi-controlled capital city, Sanaa. asserted

employee → allege → city

Using an official passport from his time in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ellaboudy traveled from Richland to Oman before crossing the border to Yemen in September 2025. asserted

Ellaboudy → use → September

When he returned to the United States, the suspect told Customs and Border Protection that the purpose of his overseas trip was on official government business. asserted

purpose → return → business

His department supervisor later told federal authorities that he had no authorized travel to that region. asserted

he → tell → region

“These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a press release. asserted

Eisenberg → defy → release

Ellaboudy, who was arrested by the FBI earlier Thursday, worked at the Energy Department’s field office in Hanford, Washington. asserted

who → arrest → Hanford

The office said Ellaboudy did not try to harm the site or its workforce. asserted

Ellaboudy → say → site

“This matter did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce, and at no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site,” Office Manager Ray Geimer said. asserted

Geimer → involve → site

“We remain committed to providing a safe and secure workplace as we move the Hanford mission forward. asserted

we → remain → mission

In December 2024, Ellaboudy took sick leave from his employment because he was exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid, which is used to make explosive materials. asserted

which → take → materials

During the FBI investigation that led to his arrest, Ellaboudy was in contact with an informant who claimed to be working for a Houthi “colonel” to acquire communications equipment that would be shipped to Yemen to be used in a mobile communications center. asserted

that → lead → center

Ellaboudy provided guidance to the informant on how to enhance the Houthis’ communications equipment. asserted

Ellaboudy → provide → equipment

The defendant’s arrest came amid the U.S. war with Iran, which has remained unresolved for over seven months since its start. asserted

which → come → start

Ellaboudy is set to make his initial appearance in federal court at 11 a.m. Friday local time in Richland. asserted

Ellaboudy → set → Richland

If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. uncertain

he → convict → prison

Energy Department employee charged with attempting to support Houthis

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