During a May 2013 discussion on CNN of the possible role of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev 's wife , Catherine Russell , in her husband 's actions , Clemente disagreed with a fellow commentator , stating that " spousal privilege ... ends when it comes to a conspiracy involving terrorism . " He elaborated : " if she only knew after the fact ... and did n't tell the FBI or local police about him , that 's one thing . If she knew about any element of the plot beforehand ... now you 're talking about a completely different thing . Because she may have contributed to this conspiracy ... she loses that spousal privilege to not say anything . " Apropos of a telephone exchange between Tsarnaev and Russell , Clemente stated that national security investigators " have ways ... to find out exactly what was said in that conversation . It 's not necessarily something that the FBI is going to want to present in court , but it may help lead the investigation and/or lead to questioning of her . " Clemente 's claim , that the government maintained records of private phone calls , attracted considerable media attention and commentary
Boston Marathon bombing
Boston Marathon bombing
Tim Clemente