BOSTON – The new leader of the Boston FBI said Monday he’s committed to making sure that anyone associated with the Boston Marathon bombing is caught.

Vincent Lisi began his job as the special agent in charge in Boston in July, more than three months after twin explosions near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.

Lisi said the attack remains a top priority even though one bombing suspect is dead and another in custody awaiting trial while three other people face charges related to the investigation.

“We won’t rest until we are confident that anybody that had anything to do with that is brought to justice,” Lisi said Monday during an interview with The Associated Press.

Lisi would not say whether there are additional suspects in the bombings.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and could face the death penalty if convicted. His brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, died following a shootout with police as authorities closed in on the two suspects.

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Prosecutors have also charged three of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s friends with lying to authorities or hindering the investigation.

Last week, the parents of Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s widow, Katherine Russell, testified before a federal grand jury probing the case. Lawyers for Katherine Russell said she did not suspect her husband of anything before the bombings and nothing seemed amiss in the days immediately following the April 15 attack.

Attorney Josh Dratel said he has been told by prosecutors that Katherine Russell is not a target of the investigation, but he also said the high-profile terrorism case has put pressure on law enforcement and the Justice Department.

Lisi, 49, joined the FBI in 1989 and mostly recently worked as deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. He also investigated violent gangs and drug cases and worked as legal attache in Yemen. Lisi was also involved in the investigation into anthrax letters sent in 2001.

Lisi said another priority for him is to foster partnerships with the private sector to prevent cyberattacks, including relationships with corporations and academic institutions.

Lisi succeeds Richard DesLauriers, who retired in July after 26 years with the FBI.

 


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