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Campaign Plays Down Appearance at Clinton Rally by Orlando Nightclub Shooter’s Father Campaign Plays Down Appearance at Clinton Rally by Orlando Nightclub Shooter’s Father
(about 9 hours later)
MIAMI — The father of the shooter who terrorized a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in June attended a campaign rally on Monday for Hillary Clinton, compelling her campaign to move quickly to distance itself from him.MIAMI — The father of the shooter who terrorized a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in June attended a campaign rally on Monday for Hillary Clinton, compelling her campaign to move quickly to distance itself from him.
The shooter’s father, Seddique Mateen, was spotted by a local television affiliate at the rally in Kissimmee, Fla., about 20 miles south of Orlando. He was positioned behind Mrs. Clinton as she spoke.The shooter’s father, Seddique Mateen, was spotted by a local television affiliate at the rally in Kissimmee, Fla., about 20 miles south of Orlando. He was positioned behind Mrs. Clinton as she spoke.
Asked by the affiliate, WPTV, whether the campaign knew he would attend the rally, Mr. Mateen said, “It’s a Democratic party, so everyone can join.”Asked by the affiliate, WPTV, whether the campaign knew he would attend the rally, Mr. Mateen said, “It’s a Democratic party, so everyone can join.”
On Tuesday morning, as news of his attendance set off an uproar on social media, Clinton aides moved to play down Mr. Mateen’s presence.On Tuesday morning, as news of his attendance set off an uproar on social media, Clinton aides moved to play down Mr. Mateen’s presence.
“The rally was a 3,000-person, open-door event for the public,” the campaign said in an emailed statement. “This individual wasn’t invited as a guest and the campaign was unaware of his attendance until after the event.”“The rally was a 3,000-person, open-door event for the public,” the campaign said in an emailed statement. “This individual wasn’t invited as a guest and the campaign was unaware of his attendance until after the event.”
At a rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, the running mate of Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, accused the news media of ignoring Mr. Mateen’s appearance at the Clinton event.
“It feels like every single day the national press latches onto some other issue about my running mate, just each and every day of the week,” Mr. Pence said. “But you know what they’re not talking about? Anything having to do with Hillary Clinton.”
He continued: “The father of the very radical Islamic terrorist who murdered 49 Americans attended the rally, was on television through most of the rally sitting behind Hillary Clinton, and he said he was there because he supports Hillary Clinton, because she’s, quote, good on national security. Now the media’s not talking about that, I expect, because Hillary Clinton’s been a disaster on national security.”
Early in her remarks on Monday, Mrs. Clinton touched on the Orlando shooting, during which Mr. Mateen’s son Omar Mateen killed 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub. Omar Mateen was killed in a standoff with the police.Early in her remarks on Monday, Mrs. Clinton touched on the Orlando shooting, during which Mr. Mateen’s son Omar Mateen killed 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub. Omar Mateen was killed in a standoff with the police.
“I know how many people, loved ones and friends, are still grieving,” Mrs. Clinton said of the victims’ families. “And I want them to know that we will be with you.”“I know how many people, loved ones and friends, are still grieving,” Mrs. Clinton said of the victims’ families. “And I want them to know that we will be with you.”