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Judge Rejects Suppression Bid In Terror Case

A federal judge has rejected a request to suppress evidence against a Massachusetts man accused of providing support to al-Qaida.

Lawyers for Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury had asked U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole Jr. to review classified evidence gathered under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to disclose the materials to the defense and to suppress the evidence.

O'Toole, in a ruling released Friday, denied the motion. He said authorities had followed the proper procedures for obtaining evidence under the act.

Prosecutors say Mehanna traveled to Yemen to seek training in a terrorist camp and supported terrorist groups by translating videos and textbooks intended to encourage Muslim holy war.

Mehanna's lawyers say his activities amounted to free speech protected by the First Amendment. He's scheduled for trial in October.

This program aired on August 22, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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