Clinton 'Disavows' Support From Father of Orlando Shooter
Clinton distances herself from gunman's father, who attended her rally.
— -- Hillary Clinton's campaign responded late Tuesday to criticism that she did not reject the support of Seddique Mateen — the father of Orlando shooter Omar Mateen — who made headlines earlier this week when he was seen sitting in the crowd at a Clinton rally in Kissimmee, Florida.
Earlier in the day, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump called on Clinton to denounce his presence at the campaign stop. "She did not disavow," Trump told Fox News's Sean Hannity. "If that were me, this would be a headline all over the world about Trump. But she did not, as I understand it, disavow this man. He's got some pretty harsh views."
Clinton's campaign representative responded hours later, saying, "She disagrees with his views and disavows his support."
Clinton had previously put out a statement calling the rally an "open-door event for the public," and adding that, "This individual wasn't invited as a guest and the campaign was unaware of his attendance until after the event."
Seddique Mateen's controversial views on Afghan politics and homosexuality were made public in the aftermath of the June massacre at Pulse nightclub, in which 49 people were killed.
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