That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
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 locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
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
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.
asserted
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
The Aporia
