Seddique Mateen, the father of Omar Mateen, the shooter who attacked the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June, was spotted in the crowd behind Hillary Clinton at a rally in Kissimmee, Florida on Monday.
READ MORE: Orlando shooter’s father wants to ‘challenge’ Donald Trump
Clinton, who was discussing jobs and the economy, opened the rally by honouring the victims of the shooting.
“I know how many people, families, loved ones, and friends are still grieving, and we will be with you as you rebuild your lives,” spoke Clinton.
NBC affiliate WPTV caught up with Mateen in the parking lot following the rally to find out why he was at the event, and what he thought about Clinton’s comments.
“We’ve been cooperating with the federal government, FBI, and that’s about it. Thank you,” said Mateen who refused to answer any more questions.
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READ MORE: Omar Mateen’s father questions whether son planned attack on his own
But Mateen was more willing to talk when the same WPTV journalist encountered him by chance at a roadside stop just a short time later.
“I was invited by the Democratic Party,” Mateen told reporter Tory Dunnan. “It’s the Democratic party, so everybody can join.”
Asked if he was invited by Clinton staff, Mateen said, “I’m a member, so as a member I get the invitations. So there is nothing particular about it.”
The Clinton campaign denied it personally invited Mateen to the event.
“The rally was a 3,000-person, open-door event for the public,” an unnamed official told WPTV. “This individual wasn’t invited as a guest and the campaign was unaware of his attendance until after the event.”
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Mateen, who lives in Port St. Lucie, about 200 kilometres south of Orlando, also spoke about why he was supporting Clinton for president and condemned the actions of his son.
“I love the United States and I’ve been living here for a long time,” he said. “I wish my son joined the Army and fought ISIS and destroyed ISIS, that would be much better.”
READ MORE: Orlando shooter described himself as ‘Islamic soldier’ in 911 calls to police
Omar Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando during “Latin Night” on June 12 in a rampage that left 49 dead and 53 wounded.
The 29-year-old, who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State during a call with police dispatchers amid a three-hour standoff, died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.
Omar Mateen was born in New York after his family immigrated from Afghanistan.
The FBI investigated Mateen twice between 2013 and 2014, but both cases were closed without the agency taking action.
With files from The Associated Press.
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