USA v. Merchant

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
-against-
ASIF MERCHANT,
Defendant.
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AMENDED
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
24-CR-362(EK)
ERIC KOMITEE, United States District Judge:
For the reasons set forth in a classified memorandum
and order, the government’s motion for a protective order is
granted, except as to one request as to which the Court reserves
judgment. 	Other than this request, discussed in the Court’s ex
parte order dated January 13, the government is permitted not to
disclose to Merchant or his counsel the classified materials
identified in its motion. 	The government’s application to file
its CIPA motion and supplemental submissions ex parte and under
seal is granted. 	The government is directed to complete
classification review of the classified memorandum and order by
3:00 P.M. on January 26, so the Court may file a redacted
version of that order on the public docket and distribute a copy
to the defense ahead of the January 27 status conference.
The Classified Information Security Officer is
directed to maintain securely the government’s classified
submissions, the defense’s ex parte letter, the transcripts of
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the ex parte, in camera conferences on August 6, August 9, and
September 11, 2025, the Court’s orders dated November 25, 2025,
January 12, 2026, and January 13, 2026, and the classified
memorandum and order, and to make those materials available in
the event of an appeal.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ Eric Komitee
ERIC KOMITEE
United States District Judge
Dated: 	January 14, 2026
Brooklyn, New York
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