Widow of Pulse shooter, Noor Salman, pleads not guilty

Indictment: Pulse shooter's wife knowingly aided, abetted husband

The wife of Pulse shooter Omar Mateen pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against her during an arraignment Wednesday morning.

Noor Salman, 30, appeared at a hearing Tuesday in San Francisco and was read her Miranda rights and a list of the charges against her. During that appearance, her arraignment was postponed until Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. because her attorney had not arrived.

An indictment released Tuesday said that Salman knowingly provided support to her husband, who killed 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12.

A detention hearing was set for Feb. 1 after Salman pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning. Her attorney said significant evidence will be presented during that hearing.

Charles Swift, Salman's new attorney, said in court that he also represented Osama bin Laden's driver, who was charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism and that case was taken to the Supreme Court.

[Read more here: What we know about Pulse nightclub shooter's widow, Noor Salman I Timeline of Orlando nightclub shooting I Evidence photos from inside Pulse nightclub released

Salman was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 12, the seven-month anniversary of the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.

Salman could face life in prison for both charges, if convicted.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said authorities suspected Salman's involvement in the early days of the shooting investigation.

"We suspected that she had a deep involvement in (the shooting) and thought she would be arrested," Mina said.

The police chief said if Salman had gone to authorities with the information she knew, it could have prevented the tragedy.

Al Salman, Noor Salman's uncle, was at the courthouse Tuesday and told News 6 his niece had no idea what Mateen was planning.

"I feel sorry for this crime that happened," Al Salman said. "But don't sacrifice an innocent person. (Mateen) he got what he deserved."

Federal agents stormed a northern California home, where Noor Salman was staying, overnight Monday to arrest Mateen's wife, her uncle said.

According to the indictment, Noor Salman misled officers in the Fort Pierce Police Department and FBI agents to hinder their investigation into Mateen.

According to a report by CBS News in June, she was interviewed and was given a polygraph that month by the FBI and had also visited the club with her husband at least once before. Sources also told the network that she was texting and calling her husband, Omar Mateen, during the shooting.

 


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Signs and crosses are left for the victims of the shooting.

The document also said that Salman aided and abetted her husband, providing "material support or resources" to a foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State group, from the end of April 2016 to the date of the shooting on June 12.

Disney security officials said that they believed that Mateen visited Disney World on April 26 to conduct reconnaissance, officials said. Furthermore, he was believed to have spent several hours alone in Disney Springs, formerly Downtown Disney, the day before the shooting, officials said. 

Salman is facing life in prison for providing support to a terrorist organization. She faces up to 20 years in prison for obstruction. 

News 6 reporter Erik Sandoval will have more from Salman's hearing in San Francisco on News 6 at 4 p.m. 

Stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this developing story.


About the Authors:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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