FBI Special Agent Juvenal Martin considered developing Omar Mateen into a confidential informant for the FBI after investigating him and not finding a tie to terrorism.
Martin was directly responsible for Mateen's father, Seddique, who was a confidential informant already when Martin transferred to the Miami division in 2006.
Some time after this, a sheriff's office contacted FBI about comments Omar Mateen was accused of making at his workplace. He was a security guard for G4S.
Co-workers said Omar Mateen made comments about being connected to Al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Muslim Brotherhood. He claimed he had familial ties to Al Qaeda.
Martin questioned Seddique who said during the Russian Invasion, some family fought for Afghanistan.
Seddique also told Martin there was a distant family connection on his wife’s side to the Fort Hood shooter, but Martin said he couldn’t verify.
Martin had Omar Mateen’s supervisor wear a concealed recording device, but never captured Omar Mateen making such statements again.
Martin, with other law enforcement, interviewed Omar Mateen at his apartment three times.
Noor Salman was in the home all three times. The first two she went in and out of the common area where Omar Mateen was being interviewed.
The third time, she was therethe whole time, served refreshments and a baked good, Martin thought it was a cake. “It was very good by the way,” he testified.
During the first interview, Seddique showed up. Omar Mateen admitted making the statements, but Martin didn’t remember whether it was before or after his father arrived.
Omar Mateen said he made the comments because he felt harassed at work. Marin said he advised Omar Mateen go to his Human Resources department.
The father called Martin upset with his son, said something like “If he had done those things he was being stupid,” Martin testified.
Defense finished questioning Martin. Prosecutors will question after lunch.
Prosecutors' questioning was brief. AUSA James Mandolfo made the point SA Martin consulted with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida, not in Orlando.
Mandolfo suggested Salman called Mateen's father during the interview.
