Did Tsarnaev Brothers Use Obama Phones To Explode Bombs?

On Thursday, the Boston Herald reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) refused to answer questions about whether Boston terror suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had a government-paid cellphone because of privacy laws. 

The Herald reported Wednesday that “Tamerlan Tsarnaev, his wife and 3-year-old daughter collected welfare until 2012 and that both Tamerlan and Dzhokhar received benefits through their parents ‘for a limited portion’ of the time after they came to the U.S., which was around 2002.”

The Lifeline phone subsidy program, referred to as the “Obama phone” program by its critics, charges paying cell phone customers an average monthly fee of $2.50 per household to fund the now $2.2 billion program that provides lower-income individuals with free cell phones and service.

Lawmakers from both parties have recently expressed concern about fraud and abuse in the Lifeline free cell phone program, as well as the phones’ increasing use by criminals.

“I hear from law enforcement that these phones are often found at crime scenes and are used in drug deals,” said Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AK). “Why? It’s because you can’t trace them.”

According to the FCC, the top five companies involved in the Lifeline program cannot verify the eligibility of 41% of the over six million Lifeline phone users. 

On the question of whether any kind of cellphones were used to detonate the bombs, theAtlantic reported Wednesday on the ease with which the Boston terrorists could have used a cellphone to remotely detonate their bombs. However, a Wednesday report by theAssociated Press said U.S. officials believe the explosives were triggered “by a remote detonator of the kind used in remote-control toys.” MOREHERE