Pretrial meeting set on secret info in US Capitol plot case

CINCINNATI — A federal judge will meet with prosecutors and defense attorneys on how to handle classified information in the case of an Ohio man accused of plotting to attack the U.S. Capitol and kill federal officials and workers.

U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith scheduled the pretrial conference Tuesday in the case of Christopher Lee Cornell. The 20-year-old suburban Cincinnati man has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of U.S. officials and employees and two other counts.

Prosecutors asked for the closed-door meeting under federal law that sets out steps to balance a suspect's right to obtain evidence for his defense with restrictions on disclosure of material linked to national security interests.

The FBI has said Cornell wanted to "wage jihad." His father says he was coerced by a "snitch."

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