Clinton focused on the economy during her speech, but she also discussed the mass shooting.
Advertisement
“I know how many people, family members, loved ones, friends are still grieving”, Clinton said Monday.
The elder Mateen was spotted and identified by West Palm Beach-area affiliate WPTV, who interviewed him following the rally.
“Why the surprise? I love the United States of America and I have been living here for a long time”, said Mateen Seddique, from Afghanistan, to the local channel WPTV.
Asked about his son, Mr Mateen said he wished “my son (had) joined the army and fought ISIS” instead.
“The first thing I want to say is that club should have had good security”, the Afghani immigrant told Sky News. An official representative for Clinton said that Mateen had not been invited to Monday night’s rally in Kissimmee, and she had no knowledge of him being there until after the video had surfaced.
The campaign rally was held in the Osceola Heritage Park and was open to the public, with a capacity of 3000 people. He didn’t indicate whether the Clinton campaign was aware of his attendance, saying “Why should they be surprised?”
Mateen is known for his controversial views on Afghan politics and homosexuality.
Mateen once proclaimed himself president of Afghanistan and declared in one of his weird YouTube videos: “Our warrior brothers in [the] Taliban movement and national Afghan Taliban are rising up”.
Right-wing pundits and media were quick to claim that Mateen’s presence at the rally was orchestrated by the Democratic National Committee, with former Alaska governor and failed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin tweeting out a story that claimed “Florida DNC Invites Orlando Terrorist Father to Hillary Clinton Rally”.
Omar Mateen called 911 before and during the Pulse attack and declared allegiance to ISIS, police said.
“It’s a Democratic party”, said Mateen, “so everyone can join”.
When WPTV first tried to interview him on Monday after his rally appearance, he said only that he’d been “cooperating” with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mateen’s wife, 30-year-old Noor Salman, who was added to the gunman’s life insurance policy and given access to his bank accounts prior to the massacre, has also gone missing.
Advertisement
TV crews recognised Seddique Mateen, who was standing behind the Democrat presidential candidate while she spoke in Kissimmee, just outside Orlando.
