Clinton campaign: Father of Pulse shooter ‘wasn’t invited’ to Kissimmee rally

As first reported by NBC affiliate WPTV, Seddique Mateen was spotted in the crowd behind Clinton as she was speaking in Kissimmee, Fla., located a little more than 20 miles from Orlando.

Instead of answering the question, Clinton turned her back on the reporter and focused her attention on the people who were standing around her.

What do you think of Mateen’s decision to attend the event?

When asked about the reaction to his attendance, Mateen said, “Why should they be surprised?”

Mateen’s son, Omar, proclaimed his allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group during the June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub, which ended after three hours when police finally stormed the venue and shot him to death.

The large number of head injuries and multiple wounds on victims suggests Mateen was targeting his victims rather than shooting randomly, said Josh Wright, a former Florida Department of Law Enforcement firearms analyst who now has a forensics consulting firm in Tallahassee.

Mateen also showed reporters a sign-similar to signs he has posted on his Facebook page-that he made to support Clinton, while also calling for stricter gun control laws.

Mateen hosts a TV program, the “Durand Jirga Show”, on a California-based Afghan TV station aimed at Afghans living in the United States.

The father says his family has been cooperating with investigators. “Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know”.

Clinton’s campaign was apparently unaware of Mateen’s presence at the rally, much less the 25 minutes he spent sharing a frame with the nominee.

“It’s a Democratic party, so everyone can join”. “As a member I get the invitations, so there’s nothing particular about it”, he said.

“I … wish that my son joined the Army and fought ISIS”.

On Facebook, he shared photos of encounters with congressmen – it was unclear if they knew whom they were talking to – and “open letters” in the form of large banners, resembling the one he waved outside the Clinton rally.

On Tuesday morning, as news of his attendance set off an uproar on social media, the Clinton campaign downplayed Mr. Mateen’s presence at the rally. Mateen told Dunnan that Hillary Clinton was the best choice for president of the United States, not Trump.