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| President Backs F.B.I. Handling of Boston Suspect in ’11 | President Backs F.B.I. Handling of Boston Suspect in ’11 |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Obama offered his support Tuesday for the F.B.I.'s handling of a Russian intelligence tip about a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, even as the nation’s intelligence chief announced a review of whether more could have been done to thwart the attack. | WASHINGTON — President Obama offered his support Tuesday for the F.B.I.'s handling of a Russian intelligence tip about a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, even as the nation’s intelligence chief announced a review of whether more could have been done to thwart the attack. |
| Mr. Obama rejected criticism that the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not do enough when the Russian government asked it to investigate one of the suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, in 2011. The F.B.I. interviewed Mr. Tsarnaev at the time but found no evidence that he was involved in radical activities that represented a threat to the United States. | Mr. Obama rejected criticism that the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not do enough when the Russian government asked it to investigate one of the suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, in 2011. The F.B.I. interviewed Mr. Tsarnaev at the time but found no evidence that he was involved in radical activities that represented a threat to the United States. |
| “"It’s not as if the F.B.I. did nothing,” Mr. Obama said at his first news conference since Mr. Tsarnaev and his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, were accused of setting off bombs at the marathon on April 15. “They not only investigated the older brother; they interviewed the older brother. They concluded that there were no signs that he was engaging in extremist activity.” | “"It’s not as if the F.B.I. did nothing,” Mr. Obama said at his first news conference since Mr. Tsarnaev and his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, were accused of setting off bombs at the marathon on April 15. “They not only investigated the older brother; they interviewed the older brother. They concluded that there were no signs that he was engaging in extremist activity.” |
| He added: “Based on what I’ve seen so far, the F.B.I. performed its duties. Department of Homeland Security did what it was supposed to be doing. But this is hard stuff.” | He added: “Based on what I’ve seen so far, the F.B.I. performed its duties. Department of Homeland Security did what it was supposed to be doing. But this is hard stuff.” |
| In response to the Boston bombing, the office of James R. Clapper Jr., who as the director of national intelligence oversees the country’s 17 intelligence agencies, said a review will look at how the F.B.I. and Central Intelligence Agency handled the Russian tip and its aftermath. Mr. Obama and law enforcement officials described the action as standard procedure. | In response to the Boston bombing, the office of James R. Clapper Jr., who as the director of national intelligence oversees the country’s 17 intelligence agencies, said a review will look at how the F.B.I. and Central Intelligence Agency handled the Russian tip and its aftermath. Mr. Obama and law enforcement officials described the action as standard procedure. |
| Mr. Clapper’s office said the review was initiated by the Office of Intelligence Community inspector general and will be coordinated with the inspectors general from the Justice Department and C.I.A., a law enforcement official said. | Mr. Clapper’s office said the review was initiated by the Office of Intelligence Community inspector general and will be coordinated with the inspectors general from the Justice Department and C.I.A., a law enforcement official said. |
| “Director Clapper believes that every agency involved in collecting and sharing information prior to the attack took all the appropriate steps," his office said in a statement. "He also believes that it is prudent and appropriate for there to be an independent review of those steps to ensure that nothing was missed.” | “Director Clapper believes that every agency involved in collecting and sharing information prior to the attack took all the appropriate steps," his office said in a statement. "He also believes that it is prudent and appropriate for there to be an independent review of those steps to ensure that nothing was missed.” |
| The F.B.I.'s handling of the Boston case has come under fire from some in Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has said that “the ball was dropped” because the agency failed to identify Tamerlan Tsarnaev as a threat after the original Russian tip or to continue tracking him when he left to visit his family in Russia and later returned to the United States. | The F.B.I.'s handling of the Boston case has come under fire from some in Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has said that “the ball was dropped” because the agency failed to identify Tamerlan Tsarnaev as a threat after the original Russian tip or to continue tracking him when he left to visit his family in Russia and later returned to the United States. |
| “It’s people like this that you don’t want to let out of your sight, and this was a mistake,” Mr. Graham told CNN last week. “I don’t know if our laws were inefficient or if the F.B.I. failed, but we’re at war with radical Islamists and we need to up our game.” | |
| Mr. Obama responded Tuesday by implying that Mr. Graham was simply seeking attention. “Mr. Graham is not right on this issue, although I’m sure it generated some headlines,” the president said. | Mr. Obama responded Tuesday by implying that Mr. Graham was simply seeking attention. “Mr. Graham is not right on this issue, although I’m sure it generated some headlines,” the president said. |
| The Russian government told the F.B.I. in March 2011 that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, then a United States resident, “was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer,” according to an F.B.I. statement issued after the Boston bombings. The statement said that Mr. Tsarnaev “had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel” to Russia to apparently “join unspecified underground groups.” | The Russian government told the F.B.I. in March 2011 that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, then a United States resident, “was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer,” according to an F.B.I. statement issued after the Boston bombings. The statement said that Mr. Tsarnaev “had changed drastically since 2010 as he prepared to leave the United States for travel” to Russia to apparently “join unspecified underground groups.” |
| The F.B.I. investigated Mr. Tsarnaev and ultimately told the Russians they found no links to extremists. The C.I.A. conducted a similar review later in 2011 in response to a similar request from the Russians. | The F.B.I. investigated Mr. Tsarnaev and ultimately told the Russians they found no links to extremists. The C.I.A. conducted a similar review later in 2011 in response to a similar request from the Russians. |
| At his news conference, Mr. Obama said that because of the pressure put on Al Qaeda and other networks, the danger to the United States seemed to be shifting more toward individuals who become radical without ties to outside organizations. “Those are in some ways more difficult to prevent,” he said. | At his news conference, Mr. Obama said that because of the pressure put on Al Qaeda and other networks, the danger to the United States seemed to be shifting more toward individuals who become radical without ties to outside organizations. “Those are in some ways more difficult to prevent,” he said. |
| But he said the intelligence agencies were examining what happened in the case of the Tsarnaev brothers to see if changes in policy would make a difference in a future case. “We want to leave no stone unturned,” he said. “We want to see is there in fact additional protocols and procedures that could be put in place that could further improve and enhance our ability to detect a potential attack.” | But he said the intelligence agencies were examining what happened in the case of the Tsarnaev brothers to see if changes in policy would make a difference in a future case. “We want to leave no stone unturned,” he said. “We want to see is there in fact additional protocols and procedures that could be put in place that could further improve and enhance our ability to detect a potential attack.” |
| He praised the cooperation American authorities have received from the Russian government since the attacks, noting that he spoke just Monday with President Vladimir V. Putin. But he said that the two sides remain divided by distrust born out of years of geopolitical tensions. | He praised the cooperation American authorities have received from the Russian government since the attacks, noting that he spoke just Monday with President Vladimir V. Putin. But he said that the two sides remain divided by distrust born out of years of geopolitical tensions. |
| “Obviously old habits die hard,” he said. “There are still suspicions sometimes between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies that date back 10, 20, 30 years, back to the cold war. But they’re continually improving.” | “Obviously old habits die hard,” he said. “There are still suspicions sometimes between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies that date back 10, 20, 30 years, back to the cold war. But they’re continually improving.” |
| The inspector general review in the Boston case will begin as the F.B.I. is still trying to unravel how the bombing suspects were radicalized and how the attacks were pulled off. | The inspector general review in the Boston case will begin as the F.B.I. is still trying to unravel how the bombing suspects were radicalized and how the attacks were pulled off. |
| As part of that investigation, the authorities are closely scrutinizing the activities of Mr. Tsarnaev in the days before and after the attacks. | As part of that investigation, the authorities are closely scrutinizing the activities of Mr. Tsarnaev in the days before and after the attacks. |
| The authorities are looking at a range of possibilities, two senior law enforcement officials said, including that Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s wife, Katherine Russell, could have — wittingly or unwittingly — destroyed evidence, helped the bombers evade capture or even played a role in planning the attacks. | The authorities are looking at a range of possibilities, two senior law enforcement officials said, including that Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s wife, Katherine Russell, could have — wittingly or unwittingly — destroyed evidence, helped the bombers evade capture or even played a role in planning the attacks. |
| As part of the investigation, F.B.I. agents are trying to determine whether female DNA found on a piece of a pressure cooker used as an explosive device in the attacks was from Ms. Russell. | As part of the investigation, F.B.I. agents are trying to determine whether female DNA found on a piece of a pressure cooker used as an explosive device in the attacks was from Ms. Russell. |
| One of the officials said that a fingerprint had also been found on a bomb fragment and that investigators had tried to collect DNA and fingerprint samples from several people whom the authorities are scrutinizing in addition to Ms. Russell. | One of the officials said that a fingerprint had also been found on a bomb fragment and that investigators had tried to collect DNA and fingerprint samples from several people whom the authorities are scrutinizing in addition to Ms. Russell. |
| Federal authorities took a sample of Ms. Russell’s DNA on Monday in Rhode Island, where she has been staying with her parents, the officials said. | Federal authorities took a sample of Ms. Russell’s DNA on Monday in Rhode Island, where she has been staying with her parents, the officials said. |
| Her lawyer, Amato A. DeLuca, has said that Ms. Russell was shocked when she learned that her husband and brother-in-law were suspected of involvement in the attack. “We want to state what we stated before: Katie continues to assist in the investigation in any way that she can,” he said Monday in an e-mail. | Her lawyer, Amato A. DeLuca, has said that Ms. Russell was shocked when she learned that her husband and brother-in-law were suspected of involvement in the attack. “We want to state what we stated before: Katie continues to assist in the investigation in any way that she can,” he said Monday in an e-mail. |
| The focus on Ms. Russell is part of the wider effort by the F.B.I. to determine who else may have played a role aiding the suspects. While the authorities do not believe the suspects were tied to a larger terrorist network or had accomplices, they remain skeptical that others did not know of their plans or did not help them destroy evidence. A law enforcement official said that authorities were investigating individuals who may have helped the suspects in some way after the bombings. The official would not elaborate. | The focus on Ms. Russell is part of the wider effort by the F.B.I. to determine who else may have played a role aiding the suspects. While the authorities do not believe the suspects were tied to a larger terrorist network or had accomplices, they remain skeptical that others did not know of their plans or did not help them destroy evidence. A law enforcement official said that authorities were investigating individuals who may have helped the suspects in some way after the bombings. The official would not elaborate. |
| Meeting with reporters in the White House briefing room, Mr. Obama also repeated his position that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government would be a “game changer” while saying he wanted more information before deciding whether recent attacks were in fact committed by the Syrian government. | Meeting with reporters in the White House briefing room, Mr. Obama also repeated his position that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government would be a “game changer” while saying he wanted more information before deciding whether recent attacks were in fact committed by the Syrian government. |
| “We don’t know how they were used, when they were used, who used them,” he said. “We don’t have chain of custody that establishes what exactly happened. And when I am making decisions about America’s national security and the potential for taking additional action in response to chemical weapons use, I’ve got to make sure I’ve got the facts.” | “We don’t know how they were used, when they were used, who used them,” he said. “We don’t have chain of custody that establishes what exactly happened. And when I am making decisions about America’s national security and the potential for taking additional action in response to chemical weapons use, I’ve got to make sure I’ve got the facts.” |
| He added: “That’s what the American people would expect. If we end up rushing to judgment without hard, effective evidence, then we can find ourselves in the position where we can’t mobilize the international community to support what we do.” | He added: “That’s what the American people would expect. If we end up rushing to judgment without hard, effective evidence, then we can find ourselves in the position where we can’t mobilize the international community to support what we do.” |
| Mr. Obama declined to say whether military action would be among the options he might take should he become convinced that the government was behind the attacks in Syria. “We would have to rethink the range of options that are available to us,” he said. | Mr. Obama declined to say whether military action would be among the options he might take should he become convinced that the government was behind the attacks in Syria. “We would have to rethink the range of options that are available to us,” he said. |
| His hesitation in using force comports with the American public, which shows little interest in getting involved in another war in the Middle East. A New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday found that 62 percent of the public say the United States has no responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria, while just one-quarter disagree. | His hesitation in using force comports with the American public, which shows little interest in getting involved in another war in the Middle East. A New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday found that 62 percent of the public say the United States has no responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria, while just one-quarter disagree. |
| On other topics, the president rejected the suggestion that his influence has waned with his defeat in pushing through the Senate a gun control measure with 90 percent public support. | On other topics, the president rejected the suggestion that his influence has waned with his defeat in pushing through the Senate a gun control measure with 90 percent public support. |
| “Maybe I should just pack up and go home,” the president said sarcastically, when a reporter asked about such assertions. He went on to paraphrase Mark Twain, saying, “Rumors of my demise may be a little exaggerated at this point.” | “Maybe I should just pack up and go home,” the president said sarcastically, when a reporter asked about such assertions. He went on to paraphrase Mark Twain, saying, “Rumors of my demise may be a little exaggerated at this point.” |
| Mr. Obama was asked about reports that the State Department has blocked an employee from talking about last year’s attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, but he said he was “not familiar” with the situation. “What I’ve been very clear about from the start is that our job with respect to Benghazi has been to find out exactly what happened,” he said. | Mr. Obama was asked about reports that the State Department has blocked an employee from talking about last year’s attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, but he said he was “not familiar” with the situation. “What I’ve been very clear about from the start is that our job with respect to Benghazi has been to find out exactly what happened,” he said. |
| He also repeated his support for closing the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in response to a question about a hunger strike by inmates there. | He also repeated his support for closing the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in response to a question about a hunger strike by inmates there. |
| “This is a lingering problem that is not going to get better,” he said. “It’s going to get worse. It’s going to fester.” | “This is a lingering problem that is not going to get better,” he said. “It’s going to get worse. It’s going to fester.” |
| Mr. Obama made a point of praising Jason Collins, the N.B.A. player who declared this week that he is gay. The president had finished with his news conference and was walking away from the lectern when a reporter called out a question about Mr. Collins. Mr. Obama, who usually does not respond after finishing, swiveled around and returned to the microphone. | Mr. Obama made a point of praising Jason Collins, the N.B.A. player who declared this week that he is gay. The president had finished with his news conference and was walking away from the lectern when a reporter called out a question about Mr. Collins. Mr. Obama, who usually does not respond after finishing, swiveled around and returned to the microphone. |
| “I had the chance to talk to him yesterday,” Mr. Obama said. “He seems like a terrific young man, and you know, I told him I couldn’t be prouder of him.” | “I had the chance to talk to him yesterday,” Mr. Obama said. “He seems like a terrific young man, and you know, I told him I couldn’t be prouder of him.” |
| He added that it was inspiring to children struggling with their own sexual orientation to learn that Mr. Collins could still be “a great competitor” and be “still 7 feet tall and can bang with Shaq” while being openly gay. | He added that it was inspiring to children struggling with their own sexual orientation to learn that Mr. Collins could still be “a great competitor” and be “still 7 feet tall and can bang with Shaq” while being openly gay. |
| “Everybody’s part of a family and we judge people on the basis of their character and their performance and not their sexual orientation,” Mr. Obama added. “And so, I’m very proud of him.” | “Everybody’s part of a family and we judge people on the basis of their character and their performance and not their sexual orientation,” Mr. Obama added. “And so, I’m very proud of him.” |