Marathon Bomber, Citing Prison Treatment, Sues For $250K: PatchPM

Today is Friday, Jan. 8. Here are some of the top stories we're covering.

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is suing the federal government for $250,000 after what he called "unreasonable" treatment, including having his baseball cap taken away and not being able to shower as much as he'd like.

Tsarnaev, 27, is serving life at Colorado supermax prison.

His lawsuit was first reported by The Boston Herald.

What the Herald said was Tsarnaev's "hand-written" lawsuit claimed the treatment he's experienced has contributed to his "mental and physical decline." The treatment includes having his white baseball cap and bandana taken from him and having his showers limited to three times a week.

ABC News reported a copy of a judge Tuesday called the filing "deficient" because it was missing information and a $402 filing fee.

Read the full story here

Other top stories

UMass Memorial Probing Employee Involvement In U.S. Capitol Siege

One or more UMass Memorial employees may have been involved in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the hospital system said on social media Friday.

At least one of the more than 50 people arrested in connection to the riot are from Massachusetts. David Ross, 33, of Pittsfield, was charged with curfew violation and unlawful entry, according to Capitol police. Ross entered the U.S. Capitol illegally along with almost two dozen others, according to DC Superior Court records.

"We have been made aware that one or more of our employees may have been involved in the violence that took place at our Nation's Capitol," the UMass Memorial statement said. "We strongly condemn such behavior, if true, and have initiated an investigation."

Boston Mayor, RI Governor Among Biden Adds To Economic Team

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday introduced the governor of Rhode Island, the mayor of Boston and a small-business advocate from California as the newest members of his economic team.

The formal announcement came a day after his transition team announced Gov. Gina Raimondo as his choice to become commerce secretary, Mayor Marty Walsh as his candidate for labor secretary and Isabel Guzman as his pick to lead the Small Business Administration.

One of Biden's top challenges after he takes office Jan. 20 will be to nurse an economy reeling from the coronavirus pandemic back to health. He said the newest members of his economic team will help achieve that "by building an economy where every American is in on the deal."

Rep. Moulton Urges Social Media Companies To Assist Riot Probe

Moulton said Facebook, Twitter and blogging platforms have a responsibility to help identify "domestic terrorists" involved in the attack.

As rioters ran loose through the U.S. Capitol causing both death and destruction on Wednesday many of them did so without identity-concealing face masks.

Many of them also planned, livestreamed and later boldly posted about their insurgence on social media.

Now U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) wants those social media companies to help law enforcement efforts identify those involved in the attack on the Capitol.

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