FBI’s Todashev Story Gets Stupider

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There are two things that amaze me about this story.

First, that the FBI wants you to believe the latest version of their story about how Ibragim Todashev presented a threat, after the story has changed 2 times already.

FBI sources say Ibragim Todashev, a friend of accused Boston Marathon bomber Tamarlen Tsarnaev, was unarmed when he was shot and killed by an FBI agent during questioning at an Orlando apartment last week.

Sources said Todashev might have been lunging toward a sword, but he was not in possession of it.

[snip]

Sources said a sword was inside the apartment, but the weapon was moved to the corner of the room before questioning began.

And we’re to believe FBI protocol suggests you move the swords to the corner of the room, but no further, while questioning a dangerous witness.

The other thing that amazes me is that reporters still parrot FBI claims that Todashev was confessing to the 2011 Waltham triple murder — was in the process of writing up his confession, in fact! — when he suddenly turned violent and not just refused to keep confessing but lunged for the sword place in the corner of the room.

But really, he really was confessing. He just reached for the sword because it was the Waltham murder weapon and thought it better to sign the “confession” with that weapon.

Or something like that.

Update: I’m guessing this detail comes from Massachusetts cops who are unwilling to be dragged into FBI’s stuff.

An official said that according to one account of the shooting, the other law enforcement officials had just stepped out of the room, leaving the FBI agent alone with Todashev, when the confrontation occurred.

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15 replies
  2. P J Evans says:

    I don’t recall the second version, but this one doesn’t make any more sense than the first.
    I can see the sword having been moved to the corner of the room just to leave room for more than one person at the table or desk, and I assume (possibly incorrectly) that there were at least two LEOs between Todashev and the sword, if it was a typical apartment room.

  4. lefty665 says:

    “might have been lunging toward a sword” Then again maybe he just sneezed. Guess both are among the many capital offenses permitting summary execution during questioning. Is the FBI wunnerful or what?

    @Jim White: Think you got it, the east is not as red as it used to be:)

  5. FrankProbst says:

    My guess as to what really happened: Todashev was more than a little pissy about the fact that the FBI was in his apartment (and may not have known that he didn’t have to let them in), and a twitchy FBI agent shot him.

  8. Ben Franklin says:

    I was surprised when Dzokhar survived the colander boat after I saw the Chris Dorner cop riots and the panorama of muzzle flashes peppering the boy’s suspected location. When I heard this incident there was little doubt that the function of ‘security apparatus’ is to make sure only the right folks survive to tell their story.

  10. rosalind says:

    @posaune: fwiw, a couple EW tweets:

    1. “I think Comey is a good choice, but note that we’ll have an FBI Director just a few years off working hedge fund.”

    2. “Comey’s nomination will prolly elicit interesting response from torturers. They leaked letter of his to say he signed off on waterboarding.”

  12. prostratedragon says:

    He just reached for the sword because it was the Waltham murder weapon and thought it better to sign the “confession” with that weapon.

    Todashev’s last words: “Let me demonstrate …”

    Leaves any lampoon I’ve seen gasping for air.

  14. john francis lee says:

    They murdered another principle (one whose part was created with his murder). One more to go. ‘Our’ country has fallen into the hands of organized crime.

  15. Scott Kinney says:

    Someone remind me, the size of the room in the Orlando apartment and the number of law enforcement personnel in the room at the time?

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