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Lawmakers Push for Federal Trial of Boston Suspect Lawmakers Push for Federal Trial of Boston Suspect
(35 minutes later)
With the surviving suspect of the Boston Marathon bombing in the hospital — a breathing tube down his throat and unable to speak — several lawmakers said Sunday that he should be tried in federal court as a civilian, a move that would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty. With the surviving suspect of the Boston Marathon bombing in the hospital — a breathing tube down his throat and unable to speak — several lawmakers said Sunday that he should be tried in federal court, a move that would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
Even as a special team of interrogators made their way to the city to question the suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston suggested that the suspect’s injuries were such that he might not be able to communicate for some time.Even as a special team of interrogators made their way to the city to question the suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston suggested that the suspect’s injuries were such that he might not be able to communicate for some time.
“We don’t know if we will ever be able to question the individual,” he said in an interview with ABC News.“We don’t know if we will ever be able to question the individual,” he said in an interview with ABC News.
The authorities said Sunday that they believed that Mr. Tsarnaev had tried to kill himself, based on the gunshot wound to his neck.The authorities said Sunday that they believed that Mr. Tsarnaev had tried to kill himself, based on the gunshot wound to his neck.
The injury “had the appearance of a close range, self-inflicted style,” a senior law enforcement official said. “He’s not in good shape.”The injury “had the appearance of a close range, self-inflicted style,” a senior law enforcement official said. “He’s not in good shape.”
The wound, and the fact that the suspect is sedated, have prevented him from speaking. Law enforcement officials and forensic experts can typically determine how far a weapon was from the body when it was fired based on the appearance of the wound.The wound, and the fact that the suspect is sedated, have prevented him from speaking. Law enforcement officials and forensic experts can typically determine how far a weapon was from the body when it was fired based on the appearance of the wound.
Mr. Tsarnaev was brought to the hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, late Friday night after a standoff with the police in the Watertown neighborhood, where he was found hiding in a boat. Hospital officials would only say that he remains in serious but stable condition.Mr. Tsarnaev was brought to the hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, late Friday night after a standoff with the police in the Watertown neighborhood, where he was found hiding in a boat. Hospital officials would only say that he remains in serious but stable condition.
The Boston police commissioner, Edward Davis, speaking to CBS News, said that the authorities believed that Mr. Tsarnaev, along with his older brother Tamerlan, 26, were planning more attacks. “We have reason to believe, based upon the evidence that was found at that scene — the explosions, the explosive ordnance that was unexploded and the firepower that they had — that they were going to attack other individuals,” he said.The Boston police commissioner, Edward Davis, speaking to CBS News, said that the authorities believed that Mr. Tsarnaev, along with his older brother Tamerlan, 26, were planning more attacks. “We have reason to believe, based upon the evidence that was found at that scene — the explosions, the explosive ordnance that was unexploded and the firepower that they had — that they were going to attack other individuals,” he said.
Gov. Deval Patrick, speaking to NBC News, said that while there is much work to be done by investigators, “there isn’t any basis for concern about another imminent threat.”Gov. Deval Patrick, speaking to NBC News, said that while there is much work to be done by investigators, “there isn’t any basis for concern about another imminent threat.”
One unanswered question is whether others helped plan and carry out the attack, which federal officials said was still under investigation. Mr. Menino said he believed the brothers were not affiliated with a larger network. “All of the information that I have, they acted alone, these two individuals, the brothers,” he said.One unanswered question is whether others helped plan and carry out the attack, which federal officials said was still under investigation. Mr. Menino said he believed the brothers were not affiliated with a larger network. “All of the information that I have, they acted alone, these two individuals, the brothers,” he said.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, traveling in the Middle East, said government investigators had not determined the motivation behind the bombings and were investigating whether terrorist organizations had played a role in the attack.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, traveling in the Middle East, said government investigators had not determined the motivation behind the bombings and were investigating whether terrorist organizations had played a role in the attack.
“We don’t know all the facts,” he said before landing in Jerusalem on Sunday to begin a week of negotiations in the region.“We don’t know all the facts,” he said before landing in Jerusalem on Sunday to begin a week of negotiations in the region.
Representatives Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas, and Rep. Peter T. King, Republican of New York and the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter to the directors of three of the nation’s leading intelligence-gathering agencies calling the FBI’s handling of the case “an intelligence failure.”Representatives Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas, and Rep. Peter T. King, Republican of New York and the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter to the directors of three of the nation’s leading intelligence-gathering agencies calling the FBI’s handling of the case “an intelligence failure.”
They said Tamerlan Tsarnaev was the fifth man suspected of committing terrorism while under investigation by the bureau. Agents had questioned him in 2011, and last year he left on a six-and-a-half month trip overseas, primarily to Russia.They said Tamerlan Tsarnaev was the fifth man suspected of committing terrorism while under investigation by the bureau. Agents had questioned him in 2011, and last year he left on a six-and-a-half month trip overseas, primarily to Russia.
Representative Mike Rogers, Republican of Michigan who is chairman of the Intelligence Committee and a former F.B.I. agent, strongly defended the bureau’s work. He said he believed that the older brother had traveled to Russia under an alias.Representative Mike Rogers, Republican of Michigan who is chairman of the Intelligence Committee and a former F.B.I. agent, strongly defended the bureau’s work. He said he believed that the older brother had traveled to Russia under an alias.
“They had information from a foreign intelligence service that they were concerned about his possible radicalization,” he said on the NBC News program “Meet the Press.”“They had information from a foreign intelligence service that they were concerned about his possible radicalization,” he said on the NBC News program “Meet the Press.”
“The F.B.I. did their due diligence and did a very thorough job of trying to run that down, and then asked some more help from that intelligence service to try to get further clarification, and unfortunately that intelligence service stopped cooperating,” he said, without naming the agency involved.“The F.B.I. did their due diligence and did a very thorough job of trying to run that down, and then asked some more help from that intelligence service to try to get further clarification, and unfortunately that intelligence service stopped cooperating,” he said, without naming the agency involved.
“We believe he may actually have traveled on an alias to get back to his home country,” Mr. Rogers said. “When he comes back he has a renewed interest in that radicalization process.”“We believe he may actually have traveled on an alias to get back to his home country,” Mr. Rogers said. “When he comes back he has a renewed interest in that radicalization process.”
“That six and a half months becomes incredibly important,” Mr. Rogers said of Mr. Tsarnaev’s overseas travels. “That’s probably where he got that final radicalization to push him to acts of violence.”“That six and a half months becomes incredibly important,” Mr. Rogers said of Mr. Tsarnaev’s overseas travels. “That’s probably where he got that final radicalization to push him to acts of violence.”
The investigation, Mr. Hagel said, was seeking to uncover “what these two brothers were up to — why, what motivated them, were they associated with foreign governments or nonstate actors or global terrorist organizations.”The investigation, Mr. Hagel said, was seeking to uncover “what these two brothers were up to — why, what motivated them, were they associated with foreign governments or nonstate actors or global terrorist organizations.”
As prosecutors worked to complete the criminal complaint against Mr. Tsarnaev that will detail the charges, hundreds of police detectives and F.B.I. agents — including members of the Joint Terrorist Task Force in Boston, along with nearly 250 agents from 24 of the F.B.I.’s 56 field offices — continued to work on the investigation, officials said. As prosecutors worked to complete the criminal complaint against Mr. Tsarnaev that will detail the charges, hundreds of police detectives and F.B.I. agents — including members of the Joint Terrorist Task Force in Boston, along with nearly 250 agents from 24 of the F.B.I.’s 56 field offices — continued to work on the investigation, officials said. 
Their efforts included analyzing records from the brothers’ phones and computers, searching their browsing histories to find associates and witnesses and extremist group affiliations. The agents also scoured the brothers’ credit card records and other material seized from their apartment and car for evidence of bomb components, the backpacks used or anything other evidence that could tie them to the bombings on Monday or the shootings later in the week. Their efforts included analyzing records from the brothers’ phones and computers, searching their browsing histories to find associates and witnesses and extremist group affiliations. The agents also scoured the brothers’ credit card records and other material seized from their apartment and car for evidence of bomb components, the backpacks used or anything other evidence that could tie them to the bombings on Monday or the shootings later in the week. 
Many local and national lawmakers said that the federal courts would be the best place to hold a trial, rather than a military tribunal.Many local and national lawmakers said that the federal courts would be the best place to hold a trial, rather than a military tribunal.
“I hope he’s brought to trial in federal court. He will get a fair trial,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “The public defender assigned to him should vigorously defend this young man because he or she will be helping America.”“I hope he’s brought to trial in federal court. He will get a fair trial,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “The public defender assigned to him should vigorously defend this young man because he or she will be helping America.”
But Mr. Graham said that prosecutors should leave open the possibility that Mr. Tsarnaev should be treated as an “enemy combatant” in order to question him for a lengthy period without a lawyer and outside the criminal justice system, intensifying the debate over how to handle terrorism cases planned inside the United States.But Mr. Graham said that prosecutors should leave open the possibility that Mr. Tsarnaev should be treated as an “enemy combatant” in order to question him for a lengthy period without a lawyer and outside the criminal justice system, intensifying the debate over how to handle terrorism cases planned inside the United States.
Under a public safety exemption, Senator Graham said, Mr. Tsarnaev can be questioned without having Miranda rights read to him, but given his medical condition, that exception could end before he is able to speak.Under a public safety exemption, Senator Graham said, Mr. Tsarnaev can be questioned without having Miranda rights read to him, but given his medical condition, that exception could end before he is able to speak.
“When the public safety exception expires, and it will here soon, this man, in my view, should be designated as a potential enemy combatant, and we should be allowed to question him for intelligence-gathering purposes to find out about future attacks and terrorist organizations that may exist that he has knowledge of,” he said. “And that evidence cannot be used against him in trial.”“When the public safety exception expires, and it will here soon, this man, in my view, should be designated as a potential enemy combatant, and we should be allowed to question him for intelligence-gathering purposes to find out about future attacks and terrorist organizations that may exist that he has knowledge of,” he said. “And that evidence cannot be used against him in trial.”
Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, agreed that investigators should question Mr. Tsarnaev without the presence of a lawyer, but he said that there was no need to designate him an “enemy combatant” in order to do so.Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, agreed that investigators should question Mr. Tsarnaev without the presence of a lawyer, but he said that there was no need to designate him an “enemy combatant” in order to do so.
“I think that the good news is we don’t need ‘enemy combatant’ to get all the information we need out of him. No. 1, the court, the one court that has ruled, has allowed a lot of flexibility in the public safety exception before you Mirandize somebody,” Senator Schumer said. “But second, at any time, what’s called a HIG, a High-Value Interrogation Group, composed of the F.B.I., C.I.A. and anyone else, can question him without a lawyer in a secured situation and find out whatever they need.”“I think that the good news is we don’t need ‘enemy combatant’ to get all the information we need out of him. No. 1, the court, the one court that has ruled, has allowed a lot of flexibility in the public safety exception before you Mirandize somebody,” Senator Schumer said. “But second, at any time, what’s called a HIG, a High-Value Interrogation Group, composed of the F.B.I., C.I.A. and anyone else, can question him without a lawyer in a secured situation and find out whatever they need.”
Mr. Schumer said that there was overwhelming evidence implicating the suspect and that prosecutors would not need a confession to convict.Mr. Schumer said that there was overwhelming evidence implicating the suspect and that prosecutors would not need a confession to convict.
“Given the facts that I’ve seen, it would be appropriate to use the death penalty in this case, and I hope they would apply it in federal court,” he said. Massachusetts does not have the death penalty.“Given the facts that I’ve seen, it would be appropriate to use the death penalty in this case, and I hope they would apply it in federal court,” he said. Massachusetts does not have the death penalty.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, agreed that Mr. Tsarnaev should be tried in federal court.Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, agreed that Mr. Tsarnaev should be tried in federal court.
She said that the High-Value Interrogation Group, which was created by President Obama to deal with terrorism suspects, was qualified to get the most urgent information from the suspect, and noted that “the Miranda right can be read at a later time.”She said that the High-Value Interrogation Group, which was created by President Obama to deal with terrorism suspects, was qualified to get the most urgent information from the suspect, and noted that “the Miranda right can be read at a later time.”
The interrogation group is a multiagency team of specialists led by the FBI. Its deployments are classified, and the Department of Justice declined to confirm its involvement in the Boston case.The interrogation group is a multiagency team of specialists led by the FBI. Its deployments are classified, and the Department of Justice declined to confirm its involvement in the Boston case.
Mr. Tsarnaev remained under heavy guard at the hospital, where a dozen of the victims of the Boston Marathon attacks a week ago were also recovering. In all, more than 50 people remained hospitalized in the region, according to The Associated Press.Mr. Tsarnaev remained under heavy guard at the hospital, where a dozen of the victims of the Boston Marathon attacks a week ago were also recovering. In all, more than 50 people remained hospitalized in the region, according to The Associated Press.
Sean Collier, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology officer who was killed on Thursday night, was remembered at a vigil on Saturday night. Hundreds of mourners, joined by many law enforcement officers, gathered at the Wilmington Town Common to honor Mr. Collier.Sean Collier, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology officer who was killed on Thursday night, was remembered at a vigil on Saturday night. Hundreds of mourners, joined by many law enforcement officers, gathered at the Wilmington Town Common to honor Mr. Collier.
His family issued a statement thanking the community for its support.His family issued a statement thanking the community for its support.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful and caring son and brother, Sean Collier,” the family wrote. “Our only solace is that Sean died bravely doing what he committed his life to — serving and protecting others. We are thankful for the outpouring of support and condolences offered by so many people.”“We are heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful and caring son and brother, Sean Collier,” the family wrote. “Our only solace is that Sean died bravely doing what he committed his life to — serving and protecting others. We are thankful for the outpouring of support and condolences offered by so many people.”

Reporting was contributed by Willie Rashbaum and Ethan Bronner from New York; Thom Shanker from Jerusalem; and Brian Knowlton, Charlie Savage and Michael S. Schmidt from Washington.

Reporting was contributed by Willie Rashbaum and Ethan Bronner from New York; Thom Shanker from Jerusalem; and Brian Knowlton, Charlie Savage and Michael S. Schmidt from Washington.