Orlando mass murderer's dad was FBI informant, made light of son's pro-terror comments

The father of the mass murderer who killed 49 people at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando nearly two years ago, has been revealed as an FBI informant, Fox News reported.

"Seddique Mateen was an FBI confidential human source at various points in time between January 2005 and June 2016,”  defense lawyers wrote in a court document filed Sunday.

The information regarding Seddique Mateen came to light Saturday in a letter from U.S. Attorney Sara Sweeney, which led defense lawyers to call for a mistrial in the terrorism case against the killer's widow, Noor Salman.

FBI agents allege Salman, 31, lied to them in the wake of the mass killing and charge that she aided and abetted the killer's allegiance to the Islamic State.

What else was in the letter from Sweeney?

Sweeney's letter also stated that during a search of Seddique Mateen's home in June 2016, investigators discovered receipts for money transfers to Turkey and Afghanistan in the months before the murderous attack at the Florida nightclub.

"As a result of the discovery of these receipts, an FBI investigation into Seddique Mateen was opened," the letter reportedly said. “S. Mateen has not been informed by the FBI about the investigation.”

Also, in November 2012, authorities received an anonymous tip that Seddique Mateen was allegedly trying to raise up to $100,000 to put toward an attack on the Pakistani government, according to court documents.

What information came out during the trial?

Before the mass killing, the Pulse killer was under investigation for making pro-terror comments, but his father made light of his son's remarks in 2006.

FBI special agent Juvenal Martin said Seddique Mateen was upset and had called him in 2006 while his son was under investigation.

Martin testified that Seddique Mateen told him that “if he had done those things he was being stupid,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Martin went on to testify that the FBI interviewed the Pulse killer on two more occasions before it concluded he wasn't a security threat.

He said the FBI even considered turning the Pulse killer into an informant, like his father.

Seddique Mateen also claimed, according to Martin, to have a distant family relation to the former Army major and psychiatrist, who murdered 14 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, but added he couldn't corroborate the allegation.

What else?

Seddique Mateen hosted a well-known anti-American talk show for Pashtun Afghans.

He also supported the ideological views of the Afghan Taliban.

What about Salman's trial?

Defense attorneys claim the government failed to provide the information about Seddique Maten and filed a motion to dismiss Salman's case or declare a mistrial.

"It is apparent from the Government’s belated disclosure that Ms. Salman has been defending a case without a complete set of facts and evidence that the Government was required to disclose," the court document said. "If the Government had provided this information, the Defense would have investigated whether a tie existed between Seddique Mateen and his son, specifically whether Mateen’s father was involved in or had foreknowledge of the Pulse attack."

On Monday, Judge Paul Byron denied the motion, WFTV-TV reported.

Salman has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

Closing arguments could begin as early as Wednesday. If convicted, Salman faces life in prison.