Crime & Justice
US arrests energy department employee accused of aiding Yemen's Houthis
October 2, 2026 at 08:28 AM · Updated 14d ago
Coverage
3 reports · over 4 hours
US authorities arrested a Department of Energy employee on charges of attempting to provide material support to Yemen's Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
- Ashton Hamed Al-Aboudi, 51, of Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and was due to appear before a federal judge Friday.
- The FBI said Al-Aboudi traveled to Yemen in September, bought materials for crude explosives and drones, and advised the group on communications equipment.
- Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said Al-Aboudi used his specialized expertise to try to help the Houthis and obtained materials to manufacture explosives and drones.
- The Justice Department said the charges are allegations and Al-Aboudi is presumed innocent.
- Al-Aboudi entered Yemen from Oman using a passport obtained during his Army Corps of Engineers service, claiming an official mission his supervisor said was unauthorized.
- Al-Aboudi faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.