Update: just out from Boston is news that Tsarnaev has been charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against US persons and property, resulting in death. He will face the death penalty.
Dzhokar Tsarnaev charged with conspiring to use weapon of mass destruction against persons and property in U.S. resulting in death
— U.S. Attorney MA (@DMAnews1) April 22, 2013 [6]
Moments ago, in addition to White House spokesman John Carney announcing Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who became a US citizen several years ago, will not be treated as an enemy combatant and that he has just been charged under seal, the FBI released [7]a "status update" on his health condition, which is listed as "serious."
Update on Condition of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
FBI Boston April 22, 2013
Special Agent Greg Comcowich (617) 223-6110
According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev remains in serious condition. The FBI is releasing this information at the request of the hospital.
At least nobody can accuse the FBI of speaking too much, as neither can J-kar, whose throat wound is preventing him from speaking at all, but from what we understand he is communicating through writing.
[8]From The Hill [8]:
The White House said Monday it will not treat the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon attack as an enemy combatant.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said that Boston suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev would be tried as a terrorist in the federal court system.
“This is absolutely the right way to go and the appropriate way to go,” Carney said a Monday’s White House press briefing.
A number of Republicans have called on the Obama administration to declare Tsarnaev an enemy combatant and put him in military detention in order to gather intelligence from him.
““It is clear the events we have seen over the past few days in Boston were an attempt to kill American citizens and terrorize a major American city,” a group of GOP lawmakers led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement Saturday.
“The suspect, based upon his actions, clearly is a good candidate for enemy combatant status. We do not want this suspect to remain silent,” the senators said.
The Obama administration argues that it can gather intelligence from Tsarnaev in the federal system, and military detention is not necessary.
Carney listed off a number of prior cases, including the attempted Times Square bomber and “underwear bomber,” where federal interrogators gathered intelligence from the terrorism suspects.
Tsarnaev has not been read his Miranda rights yet, as the federal government has invoked an exemption that allows those rights to be waived temporarily when there is a threat to public safety. He remains in serious condition in a Boston hospital, according to the FBI.