Boston marathon suspect Tsarnaev gets shout of encouragement
BOSTON — Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev returned to court Thursday for the first time since he was arraigned in July 2013, and he received a shout of encouragement from the mother-in-law of a man who was shot and killed while being questioned by law enforcement after the bombings.
Security was tight at the federal courthouse in Boston for Tsarnaev’s final pretrial conference. Tensions ran high, and one bombing victim had a testy exchange with protesters outside.
During the brief court hearing, U.S. District Court George O’Toole Jr. made no rulings, saying he would rule in writing on pending motions, including the defense’s latest push to move the trial out of Boston.
David Bruck, one of Tsarnaev’s lawyers, told the judge that the defense plans to file a motion to delay the trial, which is now scheduled to begin on Jan. 5 with jury selection. Bruck did not say how long of a delay the defense will seek.
At one point, the mother-in-law of Ibragim Todashev called out to Tsarnaev in Russian in the courtroom. Elena Teyer said she told him: “We pray for you. Be strong, my son. We know you are innocent.”
Feds sue New York City over widespread violence at Rikers Island jail
NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors sued New York City on Thursday to speed the pace of reforms at the Rikers Island jail complex and address what a Justice Department investigation found was a “deep-seated culture of violence” toward young inmates.
The move comes a day after Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the 10-jail lockup to announce the end of solitary confinement for 16- and 17-year-old inmates, a policy change initiated after the 2 1/2-year federal probe released in August.
But the end of solitary was just one of 73 recommendations made by federal prosecutors to curb violence, improve investigations, strengthen accountability and reduce the use of solitary confinement for inmates who break jailhouse rules.
In court papers, Attorney General Eric Holder and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara wrote that despite four months of negotiations with the city, federal prosecutors “have been unable to reach agreement as to lasting, verifiable, and enforceable reforms.”
The lawsuit seeks a court-enforceable consent decree is issued by a judge to ensure the reforms take place and notes that the city has now agreed to such intervention.
Rubio has ride like no other as GOP’s 2016 campaign gets underway
WASHINGTON — As the 2016 Republican presidential primary lurched ahead this week, no GOP prospect had a ride quite like Marco Rubio.
The Florida senator’s White House aspirations took a hit when Jeb Bush, the state’s former governor and Rubio’s political mentor, announced plans to “actively explore” a campaign for president. Rubio was conspicuously quiet as party strategists suggested Bush’s all-but-official entry jeopardized his protege’s presidential future.
Less than 24 hours later, Rubio was everywhere — seizing the moment presented by President Barack Obama’s shock announcement the U.S. would restore relations with Cuba to become the face of the Republican opposition.
Rubio continued his media blitz on Thursday, hammering away at the Obama administration in Miami: “The implications of this decision will extend far beyond just Cuba,” the 43-year-old Rubio said.
By wire sources