DOE Employee Arrested Over Houthis

What happened

The FBI arrested Department of Energy electrical engineer Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, on a federal charge of attempting to provide material support to the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Prosecutors say Ellaboudy used government-linked travel documents to travel from Washington state to Oman, then crossed into Yemen in September 2025 to reach Houthi-controlled Sanaa. The FBI began investigating after learning he had bought chemical precursors, drone parts and items commonly used to make homemade explosives. Authorities say he aimed to improve Houthi communications. The FBI says he told border officers the trip was official business; his supervisor said no such travel was authorized. Ellaboudy is due for an initial court appearance. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning outlets we track didn't cover this story.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets framed the case as a terrorism-support prosecution centered on a federal employee allegedly aiding Iran-backed Houthis. Fox News emphasized the Justice Department’s claims about dangerous operational capabilities, citing drones, explosive chemicals and communications systems. It also lingered on the government-employee angle, with John A. Eisenberg saying specialized expertise made the alleged conduct more alarming.