Clinton ‘Disavows’ Support From Father of Orlando Shooter

Seddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, appears in background behind Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Kissimmee.

Her speech was mostly focused on employment, but she also paid tribute to the people killed by Omar Mateen in the gay nightclub. WPTV, the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach, noticed the man in a red baseball cap just a few rows behind Clinton.

At a Donald Trump rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday evening, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) showed up early to secure a good seat behind Trump so he’d be on TV, as he had during State of the Union Addresses.

So Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton held a rally in Kissimmee, Florida this week …

Mr Mateen’s presence was first noted by WPTV reporter Tory Dunnan, who was initially rebuffed for an interview but then was surprised to find Mr Mateen holding a pro-Clinton sign and asking to talk to the press.

Mateen said he supported Clinton over Republican nominee Donald Trump, who he said “has no solutions”. The father says his family has been co-operating with investigators. Seddique Mateen was front and center at the event, and the Clinton campaign was reportedly unaware who he was at the time.

But Ceballo came as a “plus one” with Hansen, who was contacted by whom he presumes was someone from the Clinton campaign and invited to the rally.

“I’m not upset”, Hansen told News 6.

Mateen’s father, Seddique, was positioned behind Clinton as she spoke at the event.

And I know how many people, loved ones and friends, are still grieving. Fifty-three people were also injured in the rampage, which has been classified as an act of terror by the federal government.

Clinton’s campaign spokesperson responded hours later, saying, “S$3 he disagrees with his views and disavows his support”.

“Hillary has been supporting the LGBT community, she’s been to Pulse, you know?”

When asked about the rally’s proximity to Orlando, he replied, “I wish that my son joined the army and fought ISIS and destroyed ISIS. It would have been much better”, he added. The elder Mateen has previously expressed support for the Taliban.

Should the Clinton campaign have distanced itself from Mateen the way it did?