Feds Release Transcript From Omar Mateen’s Phone Calls With Orlando Police

By Sameer Rao Jun 20, 2016

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a transcript of Pulse massacre shooter Omar Mateen‘s 911 calls today (June 20). 

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the release of a partially redacted transcript yesterday (June 19), saying on CBS’ "Face The Nation" that investigators have not yet confirmed any collaboration with foreign terror networks. That did not stop lawmakers like House Speaker Paul Ryan from applying pressure for the full transcript, which includes redacted phrases about Mateen’s professed allegiance to ISIS. 

"We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS," Ryan said in a statement cited by USA Today. "We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, un-redacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why.”

"The purpose of releasing the partial transcript of the shooter’s interaction with 911 operators was to provide transparency, while remaining sensitive to the interests of the surviving victims, their families and the integrity of the ongoing investigation," read a joint statement from the DOJ and FBI. "We also did not want to provide the killer or terrorist organizations with a publicity platform for hateful propaganda. Unfortunately, the unreleased portions of the transcript that named the terrorist organizations and leaders have caused an unnecessary distraction from the hard work that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have been doing to investigate this heinous crime."

The transcript accompanying their statement features one 911 call in which Mateen’s proclaimed loyalty to ISIS head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The FBI included that passage in a post that also excerpts of three transcribed conversations Mateen had with the Orlando Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team. In one, Mateen said that he had a vest like the one "used in France" and a "vehicle outside that has some bombs."

Read the transcript here.

(H/t  CBS News)