BREAKING: 3 MORE CHARGED IN BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING CASE

IN TWEET: THREE FRIENDS OF DZHOKAR TSARNAEV CHARGED IN THE ONGOING BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING CASE. READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE.

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Embedded below is a PDF of the criminal complaint filed today in Boston in the cases of United States of America v. Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov and United States of America v. Robel Phillipos. Phillipos has additional charges filed against him because, according to the complaint, he willfully lied to investigators on several different occasions. 

At this point, the three friends of Dzhokar Tsarnaev are not being charged in connection with the bombing itself. There is no evidence presented in the criminal complaint documentation that they had any knowledge of or involvement in the bombing prior to or during the terrorist act. Rather, they are an accessory after the fact.

This is an ongoing Federal criminal investigation and new charges could be filed should evidence warrant. You can can read the full criminal complaint documentation below.

CLICK HERE for coverage of the story from NBC News.

CLICK HERE for an overview of the charges from Slate.

You may also be interested in past RONTHINK coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing investigation:

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

BREAKING: BOSTON BEDSIDE JUSTICE!

IN TWEET: DESPITE GOP WHINING, BOSTON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV WILL BE TRIED IN FEDERAL COURT. THE FIRST ROUND OF JUSTICE WAS SERVED BEDSIDE. READ THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW.

It seems perfectly fitting that surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev received his first criminal hearing on the one week anniversary of the crime he is accused of committing.  Like so much of what has transpired in and around Boston this past week, the hearing itself was rather extraordinary. Still hospitalized and barely able to speak, justice came to Tsarnaev…literally.

Judge Marianne B. Bowler held the first hearing of United States of America v. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in his hospital room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, barely two miles from the site of the bombings. The hearing included a formal reading of the suspect’s Miranda rights and assignment of a Federal public defender.Despite a round of shameless political demagoguery by the likes of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-KY), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), the Obama Administration said “thanks, but no thanks” to calls for Tsarnaev to be classified as an enemy combatant. The terrible track record of military commission hearings aside, it is unconstitutional for a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their right to a fair trial. Tsarnaev is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

CLICK HERE for an excellent overview of the case against Tsarnaev by Jeffrey Toobin, from The New Yorker.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

BREAKING: TSARNAEV CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

IN TWEET: A PDF EMBED OF THE FULL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKAR TSARNAEV.

This is a PDF of the criminal complaint filed on April 21, 2013 against surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev. It contains a sometimes chilling account of the events leading up the attack and running through the eventual capture and arrest of Tsarnaev.

He is being charged with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, resulting in death. A second charge accuses him of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device, resulting in death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

As of this writing, initial statements from Tsarnaev claim he and his brother (the second bombing suspect, now deceased) acted alone and are not tied to any terrorist organization. The investigation continues.

CLICK HERE for an excellent overview of the case against Tsarnaev by Jeffrey Toobin, from The New Yorker.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

NOTE: Use the scroll bar on the RIGHT side of the PDF viewer to navigate up/down through the document. Use the scroll bar at the BOTTOM of the PDF viewer to center the document. If the thumbnail preview pane on the LEFT side of the window is open, close it by clicking on the small arrow at the TOP LEFT corner of the PDF viewer. This will give you a full left/right view of each page. If you are on a mobile device or have trouble viewing the PDF in this post, CLICK HERE to view the document on the web.

NEWS FINAL: BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK

UPDATED AT 6:00 AM ON TUESDAY APRIL 23, 2013

BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SUSPECT DZHOKHAR A. TSARNAEV, 19, HAS BEEN ARRESTED!

NOTE: THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS CURRENT AND WILL BE THE FINAL UPDATE FOR THIS BLOG POST. EVERYTHING BELOW IS BEING PRESERVED IN IT’S FINAL STATE TO SERVE AS A NEWS ARCHIVE AND RECORD OF EVENTS DURING THE PAST WEEK.

THESE UNPRECIDENTED EVENTS, WHICH STARTED WITH AN ACT OF TERROR AND COWARDICE, HAVE FOREVER CHANGED THE HISTORY OF BOSTON BUT THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN OUR SPIRIT, RESOLVE OR LOVE FOR THE CITY AND STATE WE CALL HOME.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF document of the charges filed against Tsarnaev on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev’s 4/22/13 bedside hearing.

 

NEWS ARCHIVE FROM THIS POINT ON. INFORMATION BELOW NOT CURRENT.

BOMBING SUSPECT #2 IS STILL AT LARGE AND ARMED/DANGEROUS! THE ENTIRE MBTA SYSTEM (BUSES AND SUBWAYS) IS SHUT DOWN. BOSTON POLICE (BPD) ASKING PEOPLE TO NOT GO TO T STATIONS OR BUS STOPS. STAY HOME! BPD WARNS RESIDENTS OF WATERTOWN, NEWTON, WALTHAM, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE AND BOSTON CITYWIDE TO STAY INDOORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. BPD ALSO ASKS BUSINESSES IN WATERTOWN, NEWTON, WALTHAM, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, ALSTON/BRIGHTON TO STAY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THIS SUSPECT IS ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

SUSPECT #2 (AKA “WHITE HAT”) IS AT LARGE. ARMED/DANGEROUS. DO NOT APPROACH/ENGAGE!

IF YOU SEE THIS MAN CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

ANY OTHER TIPS ON THE INVESTIGATION CAN BE CALLED IN TO 1-800-CALL-FBI

ADDITIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

  CLICK HERE for the official release of the photos and video of the suspects, from the FBI.

  CLICK HERE for a summary of the chase and gun battle in Watertown, from SLATE.

  CLICK HERE for MEMA Ping4alerts app. Provides zip-specific emergency messages. Android and iPhone.   

  CLICK HERE for an in-progress Google map of key events in chase and gun battle with bombing suspects.    

  CLICK HERE for coverage, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for The One Fund, the official donation site set up by Gov. Patrick and Mayor Menino.   

  CLICK HERE for perspective from Pete Hogan, a RONTHINK writer who was at the marathon.

  CLICK HERE for President Obama’s speech at the interfaith memorial mass, from NBC News.   

  CLICK HERE for information on bombing victim Lingzi Lu.   

  CLICK HERE for information on bombing victims Krystle Campbell and Martin Richard, from CBS.

  CLICK HERE for an updated on how the explosive devices were made, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for insight from Amby Burfoot, a past winner of the Boston Marathon. Must read!   

  CLICK HERE to read about Carlos Arredondo, the hero in the cowboy hat, from NBC News.  

  CLICK HERE for the story of 8-year-old victim Martin Richard, from WCVB Boston (ABC)

  CLICK HERE for an uplifting story of the outpouring of kindness following the attack, from USA Today.

  CLICK HERE for more stories of kindness, from The Atlantic.

  CLICK HERE for streaming video and real-time blog updates, from WCVB Boston (ABC).

  CLICK HERE for a regularly updated fact-checker on the attacks, from Mother Jones.

  CLICK HERE to visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) site.

  CLICK HERE to read President Obama’s remarks on the attack, from NBC News.

  CLICK HERE for a rogue’s gallery of the worst social media commentary immediately following the tragedy.

  CLICK HERE for a photo gallery of the Boston Marathon attack from the Atlantic.

  CLICK HERE for a story on the Newtown, CT runners in the marathon, from MSNBC.

We will continue to release substantiated information as it is made available via our Facebook page, Google+ and Twitter but recommend you keep abreast of the situation using the links above.

RONTHINK is based in the Boston area, a city we know and love deeply. Out of respect, we will suspend all posts unrelated to the Boston Marathon explosions until Wednesday, April 17.

Despite some of the chatter from bottom feeders out there, we should give thanks to those who shined in the face of terror today. Watching video of police, marathon volunteers, emergency workers, medics, bystanders and military personal leaping into action to pull down barricades so they could get to victims, was awe inspiring. It's even more amazing when you consider they had no idea if there were more explosive devices in the vicinity.

THAT'S the take away from this cowardly attack. I won't engage in any baseless speculation but I can say this with certainty: when push comes to shove, most people do the right thing and ordinary people become heroes. No act of terrorism or intimidation will ever change that. NOT in NYC, NOT in the skies over Lockerbie, NOT in the London subways, NOT in India, NOT in the open markets of Tel Aviv, NOT in Oklahoma City, NOT in Atlanta and certainly NOT in Boston. Nowhere...never! 

 

   

 

   

  

LOCK-ON: WHEN IT’S NOT A GAME

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF PETE HOGAN’S COLUMN. ORDINARILY HE COVERS THE WORLD OF VIDEOGAMES FOR RONTHINK BUT, AS WE SAW ON MONDAY, OFTEN TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REAL WORLD IS ANYTHING BUT A GAME. PETE WAS AT THE BOSTON MARATHON CHEERING ON HIS WIFE, JEN. SHE WAS RUNNING IN THE EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT’S HER IN THE PICTURE ABOVE, PROUDLY DISPLAYING HER NUMBER. SHE SHOULD BE PROUD. THE BOSTON MARATHON IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE SINGLE MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENT OF ITS KIND. YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY IN ORDER TO RUN AND THE TRAINING IS RIGOROUS. EVERY RUNNER THERE ON MONDAY EARNED THEIR SPOT AND EVERY SPECTATOR ALONG THE ROUTE WAS THERE TO CHEER THEM ON. WITH PETE’S PERMISSION, I PULLED COMMENTS HE MADE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BOMBS DETONATED AND 24 HOURS LATER. THESE ARE HIS WORDS AND THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED HAVE NOT BEEN EDITED.   -RJH

 

MONDAY APRIL 15, 2013

My wife finished 9 minutes before the first blast went off.

I was standing with several members of Jens’ family at the barricade in front of the Old South Church. We were all congratulating her. This was about 100 feet from the first blast. We eventually went our separate ways; Jen and I down the finishers’ chute and her family toward the Hynes Convention Center T stop.

They were about 30 feet from the first blast when it went off. Miraculously, none of them were hurt. It made all of us realize that if Jen had finished a little later or we said goodbye to her family a little sooner, things could have been much different.

My heart goes out to all those affected by this heinous act. The Boston Marathon is loved by runners all over the world. It's sad that a race that brings so many people together and inspires so many, was targeted this way. Unfortunately, events like this have become preferred targets of those who want to kill and injure innocent people. It makes me sick to my stomach and today I witnessed this horror firsthand.

My wife, her family and I are lucky to be home safe. Others were not so lucky. The joy and inspiration that this race brings to so many people is forever changed…

TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2013

Having had almost 24 hrs. to reflect on yesterday's tragedy, I can still say I truly don't know how to feel.

I'm angry at the coward or cowards who would kill and maim innocent people in an attempt to spread fear and hate. I'm also angry that what should have been a special day of pride and accomplishment for the runners (my wife included) and their families has now been torn away.

I also feel thankful that my wife, her family and my friends who were running are all safe but, I feel guilty at the same time. I wonder why we should be so lucky and others not? It makes you realize how the smallest of decisions can have huge implications in your life. If my brother-in-law had chosen a spot 100 feet closer to the finish line or, if my wife had crossed the finish line 9 minutes later, one or more of us might not be here today.

I do feel a huge sense of pride when thinking about how first responders, volunteers and complete strangers ran into the fray with total disregard for their own safety to help those hurt, not knowing or caring if there would be another blast. There's a reason I tell my wife I love her when I talk to her on the phone or leave the house. You never know if it will be the last time you talk to or see a person you love.

My wife had asked me yesterday "How can I display my medal or wear my finishers’ jacket with a clear conscience?" At the time, I couldn't answer her question but now, I say to her and to all those who ran: display your medals and wear your jackets as a tribute to all those affected by acts of terror. Not doing so is attempting to forget what happened and allows cowards to accomplish what they set out to do: spread fear and hate.

This is an amazing country and Boston is an amazing city. Time and again, we have shown the ability to put differences aside and rise to the occasion. This time cannot and will not be any different!

BREAKING: DOMA ON TRIAL

IN TWEET: ORAL ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE SCOTUS TODAY CAST DOUBT ON THE FUTURE OF DOMA. ANALYSIS, OPINION, REFLECTION ON HARVEY MILK AND AUDIO OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

I can think of no better image to anchor this post than that of civil rights icon Harvey Milk. No matter how the Supreme Court rules on the two marriage equality cases that were argued this week, I have no doubt that we wouldn’t be where we are today were it not for the fearless activism of Milk. Anyone who supports marriage equality and full civil rights for LGBT Americans owes Harvey Milk a huge debt of gratitude and my writing today is humbly dedicated to this great man.

I was living in San Francisco the first time I saw the documentary THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK. It was a stunning, transformational experience that changed my life. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and make some time to watch right here! There is a full video player from Hulu at the close of this article and additional options if you are on a browser or mobile device that does not support the plug in. 

The spirit of Harvey Milk burns brighter than ever and I can't help but imagine that somewhere he is looking down on all of this amazing progress and smiling. Now, onto United States v. Windsor.

While yesterday grabbed the lions share of the headlines, all the silly red equal logos in the world won’t change the fact that the case that was argued today is the more important of the two. While Holligsworth v. Perry was brought to the Court on shaky legal standing and focused on a ballot initiative in one state, United States v. Windsor has national implications.

At issue is Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (aka DOMA). DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996 after passing in both the House and Senate by wide margins. In brief, DOMA restricts the extension of Federal marriage benefits and the inter-state recognition of marriage to opposite sex couples only. The law has since been disavowed by many of the same elected officials who supported it, including Bill Clinton.

Here’s an amazing clip from C-SPAN shot in 1996. It’s an impassioned, 5 minute speech by Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI), the only Republican in Congress to vote against DOMA. Pay special attention to the section where he asks if it is fair to deny him and his partner the same benefits afforded others in Congress who are on their second or third marriage. It’s a pointed reference to then House Speaker Newt Gingrich who was married to wife number two at the time while in the midst of an affair with the woman he would eventually make wife number three: Callista.

HOW DOES DOMA NEGATIVELY IMPACT LGBT AMERICANS?

I’ll use myself as an a example. I live in Massachusetts, the first state to give full marriage rights to same sex-couples. Here’s the rub: what’s good for this gay Massachusetts goose doesn’t matter a bit to the Federal gander thanks to DOMA. If I marry my partner in Massachusetts we are barred from receiving any of the Federal benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples. Think about that for a moment. It’s a punitive law that covers a massive array of financial, estate and tax-related programs.

HOW DID WE GET TO UNITED STATES V. WINDSOR?

Marriage equality supporters can thank Edith Windsor, an amazing 83-year-old woman and lesbian. She sued the United States and won in the lower courts. Those rulings affirmed her assertion that Section 3 of DOMA was punitive, damaging to her (and her late partner) and not constitutional. Even though DOMA was the law of the land, by 2011 the Obama Administration refused to enforce and, in doing so, signaled agreement with the court rulings. Enter the GOP!

With the DOJ taking a pass, Republican leaders in the House stepped in and vowed to defend DOMA. The case would also gave them a twofer that no Right Winger could resist: a chance to bitch slap the Obama Administration and keep those pesky homos from advancing their diabolical agenda. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case which we now know as United States v. Windsor.

• CLICK HERE for a full, plain English history of the case from the New York Civil Liberties Union.

• CLICK HERE to read more about the amazing Edith Windsor from the New York Times.

• CLICK HERE for another look at Edith Windsor and her case, this one from The New Yorker.

• CLICK HERE to read about marriage equality in the best little state in The Union: Massachusetts.

With the exception of another round of belligerent dickishness from Justice Antonin Scalia, the oral arguments today were markedly different than those heard in yesterday’s case. In both the tone of the Justices and the questions they asked, there was palpable skepticism about DOMA. 

Declaring the law unconstitutional would not impact any state where same-sex marriage is banned or unavailable. It would basically remove the Federal Government from the equation (more or less) and return marriage to the States, where it has traditionally resided. On the up side, it would invalidate the language in Section 3 that currently prevents Federal recognition and extension of benefits to same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage is legal (or may be in the future).

LISTEN: ORAL ARGUMENTS (UNITED STATES V. WINDSOR)

NOTE: RONTHINK is optimized for CHROME. In the event you are using a mobile device or browser that does not support the HTML5 audio player above, CLICK HERE for the official audio and PDF download links of the oral arguments from the SCOTUS website.

• CLICK HERE for a full overview of today’s oral arguments in plain English from SCOTUS Blog.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Huffington Post.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from MSNBC.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Washington Post.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The San Francisco Chronicle.

Kenji Yoshino was back on THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW last night with an insightful look at yesterday’s case and some predictions about the oral arguments that were heard today. Here’s the video.

Both of these cases are expected to be decided by June. Of course, RONTHINK will continue to keep an eye on the SCOTUS and bring you updates as they happen. 

In the meantime, please sit back and enjoy THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK. You can watch right here via Hulu or, if you are on a browser or device that does not support the Hulu player, there are other options below. This is a documentary that truly soars. Don’t miss it!