Arrest of Employee in the U.S. Department of Energy on Charges of "Supporting the Houthis".. What’s the Story?

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of Ashton Hamid Al-Aboudi, an engineer at the U.S. Department of Energy, on charges of "providing material support or resources to the Houthi group," noting that he faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The department, in a statement, quoted Assistant Attorney General for National Security John E. Eisenberg as saying that the 51-year-old U.S. government employee, residing in Washington State, "traveled abroad and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to assist the Houthis, who are classified by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization supported by Iran," according to the charges against him.

Eisenberg added that Al-Aboudi also obtained materials used in the manufacture of explosives and drones capable of carrying these explosives, describing the allegations as "extremely concerning and almost beyond belief."

For his part, the Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division at the FBI, Jarod Brown, stated, according to the Department of Justice, that Al-Aboudi "betrayed the United States and attempted to assist the Houthis."

According to the criminal complaint, Al-Aboudi attempted to help the group improve its communication capabilities, purchased materials used in the manufacture of improvised explosives and drones, and traveled to Yemen.

According to court records, Al-Aboudi caught the attention of the FBI after receiving information indicating that he purchased precursor chemicals, components, and other materials commonly used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.

Investigations revealed that, in addition to purchasing those precursor chemicals, Al-Aboudi also bought parts used in the manufacture of drones and remotely operated aerial systems.

The complaint stated that in December 2024, the FBI learned that Al-Aboudi had taken a medical leave from his job, claiming that the reason was due to exposure to concentrated nitric acid, a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of explosives.

In September 2025, Al-Aboudi traveled from Richland, Washington, to the Sultanate of Oman, using an official passport that had previously been issued to him when he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the complaint.

After arriving in Oman, Al-Aboudi used the same passport to cross the border into Yemen, intending to head to Sana'a.

Upon returning to the United States, Al-Aboudi informed U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials that he had traveled abroad on an official government mission. However, subsequent information from his supervisor at the Department of Energy revealed that he did not have official authorization to travel on a government mission to that area.

During the investigation, Al-Aboudi began communicating with a "covert agent" from the FBI, who was impersonating someone working for a "Houthi colonel," with the aim of obtaining communication equipment and sending it to Yemen for use in a mobile communications center.

According to the Department of Justice, Al-Aboudi, based on his background in electrical engineering, provided advice and technical assistance to the covert agent, helping him test and modify solar-powered generators and communication equipment.

Al-Aboudi also provided guidance on how to integrate power systems with the communication system, prepared schematics and illustrations for the correct installation of the systems, and conducted research and offered advice on other equipment that could be obtained to enhance the Houthis' communication capabilities.