Judge Holds Closed Hearing In Case Of Former CIA Contractor

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- A federal judge held a closed hearing Tuesday to discuss classified information to be used in the trial of a former CIA contractor accused of beating an Afghan detainee who later died.

Defense lawyers for David A. Passaro have said they want to review classified messages from the CIA, Army Special Forces and military intelligence in Afghanistan for possible use in Passaro's case.

It was not clear what the lawyers discussed in Tuesday's hearing.

Federal law allows closed sessions to deal with classified information.

U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle says his interest was in making sure the closed hearing was restricted to issues that can be heard only in a closed hearing.

An attorney representing The Associated Press, the Raleigh News & Observer and The Washington Post said her clients would not object to a proceeding that dealt with classified information privately and other material in public.

http://www.wral.com/news/4999062/detail.html