A pretrial conference has been set for next week in the case of a Cincinnati man accused of plotting to attack the U.S. Capitol and kill federal officials and employees.
Christoper Lee Cornell was indicted and pleaded not guilty last week in U.S. Federal Court in Cincinnati to felony charges of attempted murder of government employees and officials, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and possession of firearm in furtherance of attempted crime of violence. His trial is scheduled for March 2.
On Monday, Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Mangan filed a motion requesting a pretrial conference to address the handling of classified information that is anticipated to be part of the case.
U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith granted that motion and set the pretrial conference for 9 a.m. Feb. 3, according to an order filed Tuesday afternoon.
Mangan wrote in the motion, “Because the United States anticipates that issues of discovery, disclosure or use of classified information will arise during this case, the United States respectfully requests that the Court convene a pretrial conference to consider matters relating to such classified information.”
Mangan cited the Classified Information Procedures Act that allows for some classified information to be excluded during a public trial to national security.
The FBI says Cornell wanted to “wage jihad” by attacking the Capitol with pipe bombs and shooting government officials and employees.
His father says he was “coerced and tricked by a snitch who wanted to save himself from prosecution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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