Energy Department employee charged with attempting to support Houthis

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.

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