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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MEMORANDUM & ORDER
24-CR-362(EK)
ERIC KOMITEE, United States District Judge:
For the reasons to be set forth in a classified
memorandum and order, the government’s motion for a protective
order is granted. 	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 forthcoming 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
the ex parte, in camera hearings on August 6, August 9, and
September 11, 2025, the Court’s orders dated November 25, 2025
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and January 12, 2026, and the forthcoming 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 13, 2026
Brooklyn, New York
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