They say that even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while and the editors of the Washington Post have realized that the discrepancies in the various accounts of how an FBI agent shot and killed a man being questioned in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing is, if not a scandal, at least a story:
Even if the world weren’t watching, the case would warrant exceptional attention. Mr. Todashev had had run-ins with law enforcement before last week, and his possible involvement in a gruesome triple murder is chilling. FBI agents may very well have had reason to worry about him. But if so, did they really leave a samurai sword in the room during questioning? Did they really leave only one person with Mr. Todashev? If neither of those accounts holds up, how else could the shooting be justified?
The FBI said that it takes the incident “very seriously,†that it is reviewing the events internally with its “time-tested†procedures and that it is doing so “expeditiously.†But the curious circumstances and conflicting, anonymous explanations suggest that standard procedure might not be sufficient.
The worst case scenario is that FBI special agents executed the man being questioned. That conclusion is already being drawn overseas where it’s being said that today’s United States is no better than Soviet Russia. In that sense the harm has already been done. As far as I can tell the best case scenario is that proper procedures were not followed leading to a man’s death.
The FBI really needs to get out in front of this story. A true, authoritative, and convincing account must be reported with all due haste and discipline must be exerted to reduce speculation. Even if it’s embarrassing. Even if it’s damaging.
This is yet another story that feeds the narrative of an out-of-control federal government. Now it’s a trigger-happy out-of-control federal government.
Update
Conor Friedersdorf echoes my prescription above:
It also seems clear to me that the FBI should assign someone trustworthy to set forth what it knows to be true on the record, in order to reduce misinformation as much as possible.
We may need to open a new can of trustworthy individuals. We’re starting to run short.
A trigger happy pout of control government is what’s wanted. OBama got authorization last year to kill people indiscriminately, this is just a trial run to see how people react. Seriously, how much ruckus is getting raised over this story? Not much, and it’s taking a while to get started. Before long they’ll start killing Tea Party types, claiming that they’re anti-government terrorists. No doubt steve will be here explaining why it makes perfect sense for the government to assassinate anyone that doesn’t get down on their knees and pray to Obama five times a day – after all, there’s been a real increase in applications for gun permits lately, so those folks must be up to something.
It also seems clear to me that the FBI should assign someone trustworthy to set forth what it knows to be true on the record, in order to reduce misinformation as much as possible.
How about Lois Lehner. I mean, according to guys like steve she is the most trustworthy person in government right now, and I hear she isn’t doing anything…
I haven’t read a lot about this story, but one thing I did read disturbs me (if it’s true – there seem to be many conflicting reports): Supposedly Mr. Todashev was shot seven times and then shot in the back of the head as a “killing blow.” There are circumstances in war and kinetic anti-terrorist operations overseas where a definitive kill shot to the head is legal and necessary, but I’m unaware of any circumstance where this practice is authorized or justified in a law enforcement situation.