WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is seeking details on what federal officials knew about the shooter at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016, that left 49 club goers dead and 53 injured.

The shooter, Omar Mateen, an American-born citizen whose parents emigrated from Afghanistan, reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIL during the attack. Reports also indicate that Mateen had been investigated by federal authorities twice previously after allegedly espousing support for terrorist organizations.

In a letter to the departments of State and Homeland Security, Grassley is requesting information on Mateen, including his criminal history, whether and when he was on terrorist watch lists and whether he was allowed to work as a government contractor, in light of his alleged support for terrorist organizations.  Grassley is also asking for Mateen and his family’s travel history, and is seeking details on his family’s immigration status, including whether they ever sought refugee status.  A copy of the letter was also sent to the FBI.

Full text of Grassley’s letter follows:

June 13, 2016
 
VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
 
The Honorable Jeh Johnson                                              
Secretary                                                                             
Department of Homeland Security                                    
Washington, DC 20528      
 
The Honorable John F. Kerry
Secretary
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
 
Dear Secretaries Johnson and Kerry:
 
Early in the morning on June 12, 2016, in what President Obama deemed an act of terror, a gunman opened fire at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub killing 49 people, and wounding 53 more.  Law enforcement have identified the shooter as Omar Mateen, a U.S. born resident whose parents emigrated from Afghanistan.  Orlando Police claimed the attack was “well organized and well-prepared,” and reports claim that Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS in a call to 9-1-1.
 
Media reports also allege that Omar Mateen had been a “person of interest” after making statements supporting several terrorist organizations before, was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2013 and 2014, and was additionally on the radar of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).    Omar Mateen’s father, Seddique Mir Mateen, allegedly hosts a program on a California-based satellite Afghan TV station with a pro-Taliban slant.  According to reports, he often appears on Facebook wearing a military uniform and declaring himself the leader of a revolutionary sect of the Afghan government.
 
For a more thorough understanding of Omar Mateen’s connections to ISIS and what motivated this act of terror, please provide numbered written responses to the following questions no later than, June 17, 2016, and provide knowledgeable staff to brief the Committee no later than the same.
 
1.    Please provide a list of all A-files, executive summaries, or receipt files with TECs hits for terrorism that have been requested from DHS in furtherance of the Orlando nightclub shooting investigation including all records for Omar Mateen, his parents, siblings if appropriate, his spouses, and Imam Shafiq Rahman of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce.
 
2.    Did Omar Mateen have any criminal convictions?  Please explain and provide all relevant documentation.
 
3.    Was Omar Mateen on any terrorist watch lists? If so, which lists and which dates was he on any such lists?
 
4.    Did Mateen’s parents, siblings, or his wife have refugee status?  Please provide all documentation related to their application for refugee status.
a.    If they did not apply for refugee status, or in addition to that filing, what types of visas did the parents apply for? What types were they granted?
b.    On which dates were the parents admitted to the United States?
c.    Did his parents adjust their status while in the United States? Please explain and provide all relevant dates of application for adjustment.
 
5.    Please provide all details and documentation related to travel for Omar Mateen, his parents or siblings, and his wife and ex-wife.
a.    Did his parents ever return to Afghanistan since emigrating? When? Please provide relevant documentation.
b.    Did Omar Mateen travel to any Middle Eastern country from 2000-present? Please provide all relevant documentation.
 
6.    Was Omar Mateen a government contractor with either of your agencies at any time? Please explain what type of work he contracted for, and the length of his contracts.  If so, was information from the FBI’s inquiry into Mateen shared with appropriate contracting authorities to inform potential administrative action to mitigate the risks of employing Mateen in a sensitive government contract position?  If so, what information was shared with whom and when.  If no, please explain why not.
 
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  Should you have any questions, please contact Katherine Nikas of my Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.
 
Sincerely,
 
Charles E. Grassley
 
Chairman
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 
cc: 
The Honorable Patrick Leahy 
Ranking Member 
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 
cc: 
The Honorable James B. Comey, Jr.
Director 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D.C. 20535

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