Tsarnaev Not Read Miranda Rights Under 'Public Safety Exception'

Officials debate whether to subject him to criminal prosecution or military interrogation

The Boston Marathon bombing suspect captured Friday night will not be immediately read his Miranda rights, a Justice Department official said.

The announcement came as a debate broke out among lawmakers, lawyers and political activists over whether the suspect, Dzhokar Tsarnaev, should be prosecuted in a civilian criminal court or subjected to military interrogation and over when and whether Tsarnaev should be told about his right to an attorney.

"No Miranda warning to be given" now, the DOJ official said. "The government will be invoking the public safety exception."

Beginning several hours before Tsarnaev's capture, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on Twitter that the suspect ought to be placed in military custody.