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Pulse Gunman’s Father Was an F.B.I. Informer, Widow’s Lawyer Says Pulse Gunman’s Father Was an F.B.I. Informer, Widow’s Lawyer Says
(about 5 hours later)
Seddique Mateen, the father of the Pulse nightclub shooter, was an F.B.I. informer for more than a decade before facing an investigation into financial transfers abroad, a lawyer for the shooter’s widow said in a weekend court filing. Seddique Mateen, the father of the Pulse nightclub shooter, was an F.B.I. informer for over a decade before facing an investigation into financial transfers abroad, a lawyer for the shooter’s widow said in a weekend court filing.
The lawyer, Fritz Scheller, said in a Sunday motion that the case against the wife, Noor Salman, 31, should be dismissed because prosecutors waited until Saturday, after they had rested their case, to reveal to him the relationship that Mr. Mateen had with the authorities.The lawyer, Fritz Scheller, said in a Sunday motion that the case against the wife, Noor Salman, 31, should be dismissed because prosecutors waited until Saturday, after they had rested their case, to reveal to him the relationship that Mr. Mateen had with the authorities.
“It is apparent from the government’s belated disclosure that Ms. Salman has been defending a case without a complete set of facts and evidence that the government was required to disclose,” Mr. Scheller wrote in the motion.“It is apparent from the government’s belated disclosure that Ms. Salman has been defending a case without a complete set of facts and evidence that the government was required to disclose,” Mr. Scheller wrote in the motion.
Ms. Salman faces charges of aiding and abetting her husband, Omar Mateen, in the shooting in Orlando, Fla., in which he killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. Her trial began this month. If convicted, she faces life in prison.Ms. Salman faces charges of aiding and abetting her husband, Omar Mateen, in the shooting in Orlando, Fla., in which he killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. Her trial began this month. If convicted, she faces life in prison.
In the filing, Mr. Scheller said that a federal prosecutor notified him by email on Saturday that Mr. Mateen’s father was a confidential F.B.I. source at various times between January 2005 and June 2016, when the attack occurred.In the filing, Mr. Scheller said that a federal prosecutor notified him by email on Saturday that Mr. Mateen’s father was a confidential F.B.I. source at various times between January 2005 and June 2016, when the attack occurred.
The prosecutor also reportedly said that, after the shooting, the government began an investigation into financial transfers Mr. Mateen had made to Turkey and Afghanistan, an inquiry of which he had not been made aware. The authorities also received a tip in 2012 accusing him of trying to raise money for an attack against the Pakistan government, according to the email.The prosecutor also reportedly said that, after the shooting, the government began an investigation into financial transfers Mr. Mateen had made to Turkey and Afghanistan, an inquiry of which he had not been made aware. The authorities also received a tip in 2012 accusing him of trying to raise money for an attack against the Pakistan government, according to the email.
Mr. Scheller argued in the motion that by withholding that information for so long, the federal government had robbed him of the opportunity to investigate a line of defense, violating Ms. Salman’s constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial. If the court does not dismiss her case, he said, it should declare a mistrial.Mr. Scheller argued in the motion that by withholding that information for so long, the federal government had robbed him of the opportunity to investigate a line of defense, violating Ms. Salman’s constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial. If the court does not dismiss her case, he said, it should declare a mistrial.
Had Ms. Salman’s lawyers known, they could have investigated various lines of argument, Mr. Scheller said, including whether the senior Mr. Mateen, not Ms. Salman, sought to support the Islamic State or whether the F.B.I. targeted her to avoid responsibility for failures related to its use of him as an informer.Had Ms. Salman’s lawyers known, they could have investigated various lines of argument, Mr. Scheller said, including whether the senior Mr. Mateen, not Ms. Salman, sought to support the Islamic State or whether the F.B.I. targeted her to avoid responsibility for failures related to its use of him as an informer.
The email to Mr. Scheller was sent by a lawyer from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. A spokesman offered no response to or comment on the motion, which was being argued in court on Monday. The email to Mr. Scheller was sent by a lawyer from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. A spokesman offered no response to or comment on the motion, which was argued in court on Monday.
In the trial, Ms. Salman’s lawyers have depicted her as a devoted parent, a women with limited intelligence and a victim of cheating and abuse, a portrait that may play on the jury’s sympathies and pose a challenge for federal prosecutors. In the trial, Ms. Salman’s lawyers have depicted her as a devoted parent, a woman with limited intelligence and a victim of cheating and abuse, a portrait that may play on the jury’s sympathies and pose a challenge for federal prosecutors.
In November 2016, Ms. Salman told The New York Times that, while she was pregnant, her husband had punched her on the shoulder so hard that it caused bruising. He then threatened her with further violence if she failed to conceal the abuse from his parents. In November 2016, Ms. Salman told The New York Times that, while she was pregnant, her husband had punched her on the shoulder so hard that it caused bruising. He then threatened her with violence if she failed to conceal the abuse from his parents.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, have portrayed Ms. Salman as a cunning partner to Mr. Mateen and say she helped him plot the attack.Prosecutors, meanwhile, have portrayed Ms. Salman as a cunning partner to Mr. Mateen and say she helped him plot the attack.
Seddique Mateen could not be reached for comment.Seddique Mateen could not be reached for comment.